Sanae Takaichi’s ascent to the apex of Japanese politics is as historic as it is polarizing. At 64, she has become the first woman to lead the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Japan’s dominant political force, setting the stage for her to become the nation’s first female prime minister. Her victory on October 4, 2025, in a closely watched LDP leadership election, where she defeated Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi in a runoff, marked not just a personal triumph but a symbolic turning point in a country long dominated by male political leadership. In fact, she is the first woman to be the Prime Minister in Japanese history. To win the election, she highlighted her careful cultivation of party support, her relentless alignment with former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s conservative legacy, and her ability to consolidate backing from key factions that have historically resisted female leadership at the highest levels.
Born in Nara in 1961, Takaichi’s early life was marked by both privilege and ambition. She pursued a degree in business management at Kobe University. Briefly, she expanded her political horizons as a congressional fellow in the United States, an experience that gave her insight into Western political structures, even as she would later champion staunchly traditionalist and nationalist positions. Entering politics in 1993 as an independent, she joined the LDP three years later and steadily built a reputation for disciplined loyalty and ideological clarity. From there, she built a strong ministerial portfolio that has been extensive, encompassing Internal Affairs and Communications, as well as Economic Security and Gender Equality. This combination illustrates her ability to navigate the inner workings of government while leaving a consistent conservative imprint on policy.
Takaichi’s politics are unapologetically rooted in ultranationalism. A member of the revisionist organization Nippon Kaigi, she has consistently downplayed Japan’s wartime transgressions, portraying the country’s militaristic past as primarily defensive. Her repeated visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, a site that honors Japan’s war dead, including convicted war criminals, have drawn sharp condemnation from China and South Korea. Such gestures highlight how Takaichi’s brand of nationalism remains deeply controversial abroad. Yet domestically, these positions resonate with voters who feel that Japan’s historical narrative has been unfairly maligned and that a stronger, prideful national identity is overdue.
Her domestic conservatism is equally pronounced. Takaichi opposes same-sex marriage and resists reforms that would allow married couples to retain separate surnames, measures that would signal a shift toward gender equality in Japanese society. She is also a vocal proponent of male-only imperial succession, a stance that underscores her broader commitment to traditional social hierarchies. Critics argue that these positions are out of step with contemporary social movements, while supporters see them as essential to preserving cultural continuity in a rapidly changing society.
On foreign policy, Takaichi presents a decisive, hawkish posture. She advocates revising Article 9 of Japan’s Constitution, which renounces the use of military force, to enable a more robust national defense. This assertiveness is primarily directed at countering the rising influence of China and the ongoing provocations of North Korea, signaling a readiness to expand Japan’s military and geopolitical footprint. However, this could potentially escalate tensions in the region and complicate multilateral diplomacy. For the United States, this could be a double-edged sword. Takaichi’s commitment to a strong U.S.-Japan alliance aligns closely with American strategic objectives in the Indo-Pacific, reinforcing deterrence against regional adversaries. At the same time, her historical revisionism and nationalist rhetoric risk inflaming tensions with neighboring states, complicating multilateral diplomacy and potentially requiring Washington to navigate more frequent crises.
Takaichi’s rise also underscores a paradox in modern Japan. Her election represents a landmark moment for women in politics, breaking centuries-old barriers in a male-dominated system. Yet the policies she champions, ultranationalist, socially conservative, and resistant to many forms of modernization, may reinforce traditional hierarchies and limit the very progress her symbolic victory suggests. The coming years will test whether her leadership can strike a balance between the historic significance of her gender and the implications of her ideological commitments, shaping Japan’s domestic and international trajectory in ways that will resonate far beyond its borders. In a region where history, security, and social norms are in constant tension, Sanae Takaichi’s tenure promises to be as consequential as it is contentious.
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