Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has found herself at the center of both praise and controversy following her high-profile diplomatic debut, which included hosting U.S. President Donald Trump in Tokyo just one week after she assumed office as Japan’s first female leader. The events of the past week have set the tone for Takaichi’s nascent administration, highlighting both her energetic approach to international relations and the challenges she faces at home.
On Tuesday, November 4, 2025, members of Japan’s parliament commended Takaichi for her swift and assertive entrance onto the global stage. According to the Associated Press, opposition leader Yoshihiko Noda, head of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, remarked on Takaichi’s “big smiles” and noted she was “full of energy,” saying she had earned Trump’s praise as a “very energetic woman.” Noda added, “I believe you are off to a good start in building a personal relationship.”
Yet, the same session also saw Takaichi taken to task for what Noda described as “flattery diplomacy to the extreme.” At issue was her reported plan to nominate Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. The move, confirmed by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, was met with skepticism by many in Japan, particularly after Trump suggested that the United States might resume nuclear testing—a deeply sensitive subject in a country still haunted by the legacy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
“It was too careless,” Noda told Takaichi during the lower house session, directly questioning whether she still intended to nominate Trump in light of his nuclear remarks. Takaichi, for her part, did not respond to the query, leaving her intentions unclear and fueling further debate among lawmakers and the public alike.
Takaichi’s diplomatic outreach has not been limited to the United States. In the days following her summit with Trump, she also held talks with China’s President Xi Jinping and South Korea’s Lee Jae Myung, promising to develop stable ties with both neighbors. This is no small feat, given her past hawkish stances: Takaichi has previously defended Japan’s actions during World War II and made regular visits to Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine, a site viewed by many in Asia as a symbol of unrepentant militarism.
However, in a notable shift, Takaichi has recently toned down her rhetoric. She skipped her usual seasonal visit to Yasukuni last month, opting instead to donate a religious ornament. This gesture was widely interpreted as an attempt to avoid antagonizing Seoul and Beijing, and it appears to have paid off—her recent efforts at rapprochement have been well received by both governments, according to AP and other media outlets.
Public opinion, too, seems to be on Takaichi’s side, at least for now. Polls conducted since she took office have shown support ratings hovering between 60 and 70 percent, with a weekend survey following her diplomatic debut pushing her approval to an impressive 80 percent. Still, support for her Liberal Democratic Party remains relatively stagnant at around 20 to 30 percent, a sign that personal popularity does not necessarily translate into party strength.
This disconnect has real consequences for Takaichi’s legislative agenda. Her ruling coalition, which now includes the Japan Innovation Party, lacks a majority in both houses of parliament. This means that any significant policy moves will require cooperation from opposition parties—a tall order in Japan’s often fractious political climate.
Against this backdrop, Takaichi’s government has moved swiftly to address some of the country’s most pressing domestic issues. On the same day she was praised and criticized in parliament, her administration launched a ministerial meeting to tackle concerns related to foreigners in Japan, including investment, land transactions, labor, and tourism. This initiative comes on the heels of a summer campaign by a right-wing party that capitalized on ethnocentric sentiment and growing public frustration over rising prices, stagnant wages, and uncertain economic prospects.
“Illegal activity among some foreigners is causing a sense of uneasiness and unfairness among the Japanese people,” Takaichi said, as reported by AP. “The government will resolutely respond to these actions, while distancing itself from xenophobia.” The delicate balance she seeks—cracking down on crime without stoking anti-foreigner sentiment—reflects broader anxieties in Japanese society, where demographic decline and economic stagnation have made immigration both a necessity and a flashpoint for controversy.
In addition to addressing social concerns, Takaichi has also set her sights on economic growth. She convened the first meeting of a task force dedicated to boosting the economy through public-private investment in 17 strategic areas, including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, shipbuilding, and defense. This ambitious agenda is designed to position Japan at the forefront of technological innovation and to shore up industries seen as vital to national security and prosperity.
Takaichi’s diplomatic style and policy priorities have drawn inevitable comparisons to her mentor, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. During Trump’s visit, she further cemented her reputation as Abe’s protégé, echoing his emphasis on close U.S.-Japan ties and agreeing with Trump to build what they called a “golden age” of bilateral relations. This continuity has reassured some allies in Washington and Tokyo, but it also raises questions about how much room Takaichi has to chart her own course—especially given the shifting geopolitical landscape in East Asia.
Yet, for all the fanfare surrounding her early days in office, Takaichi faces significant hurdles. Her coalition’s lack of a parliamentary majority limits her ability to enact sweeping reforms. The controversy over her nomination of Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize continues to dog her, particularly as the nuclear issue remains unresolved. And while her efforts to reach out to China and South Korea have been welcomed, any misstep could quickly unravel the fragile goodwill she has worked to build.
Observers say that the coming months will be a critical test of Takaichi’s leadership. Can she maintain her popularity while navigating the treacherous waters of Japanese politics? Will her pragmatic approach to diplomacy yield tangible results, or will old controversies resurface to undermine her agenda? For now, Takaichi’s energetic debut has given her a running start—but the real challenges, both at home and abroad, are only just beginning.
As Japan watches closely, the nation’s first female prime minister is learning that in politics, as in diplomacy, the spotlight can be as unforgiving as it is illuminating.
