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In a historic moment for Japan, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader Sanae Takaichi has been elected as the country’s first female prime minister. Marking a shift in a political landscape of the East Asian nation long dominated by men, both houses of Japan’s Parliament voted in her favour. The 64-year-old conservative, known for her outspoken criticism of China, won 237 votes in the Lower House, comfortably clearing the majority threshold in the 465-seat chamber, according to the BBC. In the run-off vote, the Upper House also chose Takaichi, who received 125 votes — just one more than needed for a simple majority. Inspired by Britain’s late leader Margaret Thatcher, a hardline conservative, Takaichi, rose to the top after a whirlwind of political manoeuvring, becoming the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader and subsequently winning a parliamentary vote to take the nation’s highest office. Takaichi won Japan’s ruling party’s presidency on October 4, becoming the first woman ever to secure the post, after her third attempt. Who Is Sanae Takaichi? A former economic security and interior minister, Takaichi has long cited Thatcher as her political inspiration. She met the late British prime minister at a symposium in 2013 and often praises her “strong convictions and womanly warmth.” Like Thatcher, Takaichi hails from humble beginnings — her father worked at a car company, her mother was a police officer — an unusual background in an LDP stacked with political dynasties, according to news agency Reuters. Education And Political Journey Takaichi graduated from Kobe University with a degree in business management and later served as a congressional fellow in the US Congress, experiences that shaped her pragmatic approach to governance. She entered Japan’s parliament in 1993 as an independent and joined the LDP three years later. The sexagenarian has been a heavy metal fan for most of her life. She started drumming in a college band and idolizes legendary bands such as Iron Maiden and Deep Purple. She played so hard that she always kept four pairs of drumsticks as backups in case they broke, according to Japanese media. Yet, Takaichi’s fiscal approach sharply contrasts with Thatcher’s frugality. A staunch supporter of “Abenomics,” the late Shinzo Abe’s pro-spending economic policies, she has called for higher government expenditure, tax cuts, and greater control over the Bank of Japan. Her big-spending stance, however, has raised concerns among investors wary of Japan’s mounting debt. Takaichi’s conservative worldview and nationalist leanings have made her a polarizing figure. A frequent visitor to Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine, which honours Japan’s war dead — including convicted war criminals — she has drawn criticism from China and South Korea. She also supports revising Japan’s pacifist constitution and has floated the idea of a “quasi-security alliance with Taiwan,” a stance that could further strain relations with Beijing. Socially, Takaichi remains deeply conservative. She opposes same-sex marriage and the right of married couples to use separate surnames — both of which enjoy broad public support in Japan. Though she has vowed to appoint more women to her cabinet, polls suggest her views resonate more strongly with male voters than with women. The Human Touch Behind The Hardliner Despite her tough political persona, those who know Takaichi describe a warmer side. Her friends in her hometown of Nara recall her as approachable and thoughtful. Her former hairdresser, Yukitoshi Arai, even dubbed her signature look the “Sanae Cut,” explaining, “It has a sleek, sharp, and stylish look. The sides are long, but she deliberately tucks them behind her ears as a way of showing that she listens carefully to other people,” Reuters reported. Now, as she prepares to host US President Donald Trump next week, Takaichi faces the formidable task of steering Japan through economic uncertainty and geopolitical tension — all while proving that a woman can wield power at the pinnacle of Japanese politics. Whether hailed as a reformer or criticized as a nationalist, Sanae Takaichi has already made history — and, much like her idol, the “Iron Lady,” she seems ready to reshape it.
