Japan has reached a historic milestone. On October 21, 2025, lawmakers elected Sanae Takaichi as the country’s first female prime minister. She secured 237 votes in the lower house over opposition leader Yoshihiko Noda and followed that with 125–46 in the upper house.
A historic appointment
Takaichi’s rise marks an unprecedented change in Japanese politics. Despite Japan being a longtime U.S. ally and global power, no woman had held the post of prime minister in modern times. Her election therefore carries both symbolic and substantive weight.
She is a veteran lawmaker, close to former prime minister Shinzo Abe, and noted for her hawkish positions on defence, immigration and constitutional revision.
Fragile political foundations
However, her new government is far from secure. Her long-governing party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), lost its coalition partner Komeito after decades of alliance. To gain the votes she needed, the party signed a deal with the right-leaning Japan Innovation Party (Ishin). That deal brings her into a sharper ideological position.
Even with that alliance, the ruling bloc lacks a majority in either house — leaving the prime minister vulnerable to legislative gridlock and forced compromises.
Pressing domestic challenges
Takaichi assumes office at a time of domestic discontent. The LDP’s recent election setbacks reflect voter frustration over corruption scandals, rising living costs and stagnant growth.
Her campaign pledged tax cuts, cash payments to households and a commitment to economic growth over austerity. Yet her platform also emphasised strong defence and constitutional revision — both controversial.
Diplomatic and security test
Externally, Japan faces an urgent diplomatic agenda. The U.S. President — Donald Trump — is expected to visit Japan within days, adding immediate pressure on the new prime minister to deliver foreign-policy results.
Takaichi’s pro-defence, nationalist posture — the “Japan First” mindset — aligns with her predecessor’s blueprint, but she must also maintain alliances and navigate regional tensions with China and South Korea.
What this means for women in politics
Her election shatters a gender barrier, but observers caution that it does not necessarily herald a broader shift in gender equality in Japan. Takaichi herself opposes same-surname rules for married couples and female imperial succession — positions that some see as at odds with feminist progress.
Outlook: the first 100 days will matter
Takaichi begins her tenure with little margin for error. She must unify her coalition, navigate economic pain among voters, manage a complex diplomatic agenda and build legitimacy in parliament. As one expert puts it: “She emerges … as a diminished leader from the get-go.”
To succeed, she will need to show early wins: inflation control, visible economic relief and steady foreign-policy engagements. Without those, her government could falter quickly.
