Japan’s parliament has elected Sanae Takaichi as the country’s first female prime minister, marking a historic breakthrough in a nation where political leadership has long been dominated by men.
The vote, held on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, ushers in a landmark moment for a traditionally patriarchal society and signals the beginning of a new and potentially defining chapter in Japanese politics.
Takaichi, 64, assumes office at a time of significant national strain. Japan is battling mounting economic pressure, rising living costs, and a political landscape that has grown fractured and fragile.
She steps into the role just days before a scheduled visit by U.S. President Donald Trump, immediately placing foreign policy, diplomacy and Japan’s global standing at the top of her agenda.
A staunch conservative and long-time member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Takaichi is expected to champion a hard-right policy approach.
Her priorities include strengthening Japan’s defense posture, pursuing constitutional revision, tightening immigration controls, and restoring political stability after a period of internal party turbulence.
Her rise is closely tied to the influence of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, whose nationalist and security-focused ideology she is widely expected to extend.
Despite the symbolic nature of her election, Takaichi’s gender does not automatically signal sweeping reforms for Japanese women.
Over the years, she has taken controversial positions on gender policy, including opposing same-sex marriage and resisting progressive pushes to transform Japan’s rigid corporate and political structures.
For many observers, that paradox, a historic female leader who is not a feminist reformer will define the early debate around her premiership.
Takaichi’s personal story adds an unexpected twist to her political identity. A former TV presenter, she is also known as a heavy metal drummer and Kawasaki motorcycle enthusiast, having grown up in Nara near Osaka before rising through the party ranks to become a symbol of conservative resilience.
Now, with a divided parliament, a slowing economy and intense global scrutiny, Takaichi faces the dual test of delivering stability at home and proving that her historic victory can translate into meaningful leadership, not just a moment in Japan’s history books.
