Japan’s parliament appointed Sanae Takaichi as the country’s first female prime minister, marking a milestone for gender equality in leadership.
The 64-year-old conservative, who admired Margaret Thatcher, won the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership on October 4, 2025, and now leads a minority government as Japan’s fifth premier in five years. She will formally take office after meeting the emperor.
Takaichi forged an 11th-hour alliance with the Japan Innovation Party (JIP) after the Komeito party quit over her conservative views and an LDP slush fund scandal. Her in-tray includes a visit by US President Donald Trump next week, unresolved trade disputes, population decline, and a sluggish economy. She pledged to “strengthen Japan’s economy and reshape it for future generations.”
BREAKING: Sanae Takaichi becomes Japan’s first female leader, a historic event made possible by a coalition between the LDP and the Japan Innovation Party. 👉 https://t.co/br2yILvjb5 pic.twitter.com/PLYIZPZKZk
— The Japan Times (@japantimes) October 21, 2025Takaichi’s “Nordic-level” diverse cabinet may include Satsuki Katayama for finance and Kimi Onoda for economic security. She aims to boost women’s representation in politics (15% in the lower house) and corporate boards. Japan ranked 118th in the 2025 Global Gender Gap Report. Takaichi, who has spoken on menopause, opposes surname changes for married couples and favours male imperial succession.
Sanae Takaichi, the pro-stimulus conservative set to become Japan’s first female prime minister, is an energetic nationalist with a soft spot for the hard-nosed politics of Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher and the heavy metal music of Iron Maiden https://t.co/PEWLaEmIRp
📷: Yuichi… pic.twitter.com/FYLXMe0VCV
— Bloomberg (@business) October 21, 2025A Nara resident, Toru Takahashi, 76, praised her: “She’s strong-minded and clear about right and wrong.” Keiko Yoshida, 39, hopes for childcare and work return support, while Nina Terao, 18, wants women’s perspectives prioritised.
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Takaichi backs “Abenomics”-style easing and spending, boosting stocks to record highs. She toned down anti-China rhetoric but sees Beijing as a security threat. Trump’s demands include curbing Russian energy imports and boosting defence spending.
Takaichi’s appointment breaks barriers but tests her leadership in a divided parliament and tense geopolitics. Her success could reshape Japan’s economy and foreign ties.
