Japan's first female PM: How country is set for major shift under 'Iron Lady' Sanae Takaichi

Japan’s rightward shift under Takaichi

Japan is set to make history as Sanae Takaichi, a conservative and former internal affairs minister, wins the leadership of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), positioning her to become the country’s first female prime minister. At 64, Takaichi won over Farm Minister Shinjiro Koizumi in a closely fought runoff on 4 October, after previous defeats to Fumio Kishida in 2021 and Shigeru Ishiba last year. Expected to be formally elected by parliament on 15 October, Takaichi supports larger economic stimulus and reforms but maintains traditional views on gender roles, with anticipated right-wing rhetoric on immigration and social issues.

Gender milestone with conservative limits

Sanae Takaichi’s expected election as Japan’s first female prime minister marks a historic milestone, yet her record on gender equality presents a cautious picture. She opposes revising the 19th-century law requiring married couples to share a surname, favours maintaining a male-only imperial throne, and does not support same-sex marriage. These stances align her with the conservative wing of Japan’s traditionalist ruling party.

“Her election would be a step forward for women’s participation in politics,” said Sadafumi Kawato, professor emeritus at the University of Tokyo, to AFP. “But she’s shown little inclination to fight against patriarchal norms.” Within the Liberal Democratic Party, women advocating for diversity or gender equality have often been sidelined, and Takaichi has largely mirrored the views of influential male leaders, aiding her political ascent.

On the campaign trail, she pledged to appoint more women to her cabinet and compared her ambitions to “Nordic” standards. Analysts caution, however, that her close ties to male party heavyweights could constrain meaningful change.

With women holding just 15 per cent of lower house seats and only two of 47 prefectural governorships, Japan lags globally, ranking 118th in the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Gender Gap Report. Still, Takaichi has shown small openness, speaking on menopausal struggles and emphasising the need to educate men on women’s health in schools and workplaces.

Takaichi signals assertive global role

Takaichi’s foreign policy approach strongly emphasises security.

She is well known for her hawkish position on China and has long advocated revising Japan’s pacifist postwar constitution. Earlier this year, she suggested a “quasi-security alliance” with Taiwan, a proposal likely to provoke Beijing.

Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te welcomed her victory, calling her a “steadfast friend of Taiwan.” He expressed hope that “under the leadership of the new (LDP) President Takaichi, Taiwan and Japan can deepen their partnership in areas such as economic trade, security, and technological cooperation.”

Takaichi has also indicated potential willingness to renegotiate an investment deal with US President Donald Trump, which had reduced his tariffs in exchange for Japanese taxpayer-backed investments.

The US ambassador to Japan, George Glass, quickly congratulated her, posting on X that he looked forward to strengthening the Japan-US partnership “on every front.”

If she assumes the premiership, Takaichi has pledged a more visible international profile than her predecessor, promising to travel abroad frequently and assert that “Japan is back!”

“I have thrown away my own work-life balance and I will work, work, work,” Takaichi said in her victory speech.

Political implications: Rightward shift

Sanae Takaichi’s political stance signals a deliberate rightward shift aimed at consolidating backing among conservative voters and within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has faced internal divisions and setbacks in recent years. Critics warn that this approach risks further polarising Japanese society, as economic frustrations and nationalist sentiments are brought into mainstream politics.

Takaichi enjoys strong support from the conservative wing of the LDP and followers of the late ex-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. She champions aggressive monetary easing and large-scale fiscal spending, echoing her mentor’s “Abenomics” policies, which analysts say could unsettle markets if reintroduced.

She has also expressed concerns about crime and the economic influence of foreigners, advocating stricter regulations to reclaim voters who turned to nationalist, anti-immigration parties. On trade, Takaichi stated she would not hesitate to renegotiate US tariffs if agreements are perceived as harmful or unfair to Japan.

Hawkish policies and regional concerns

Takaichi has called for a stronger military, increased fiscal spending, promotion of nuclear fusion, cybersecurity, and stricter immigration policies. She is a wartime history revisionist and a China hawk, regularly visiting Yasukuni Shrine, which neighbours view as a symbol of militarism. Political observers note her hawkish and revisionist views could complicate relations with Beijing and Seoul and affect the coalition with Komeito.

(With Agency inputs)