Japan turned a new page in its political history on October 21, 2025, as the nation’s parliament elected Sanae Takaichi the country’s first female prime minister. Takaichi, a veteran lawmaker with over three decades in politics, now stands at the helm of a government facing both daunting challenges and historic opportunities. Her rise marks a symbolic breakthrough in a country where gender equality in politics has long lagged behind, but the road ahead is anything but smooth.
Takaichi’s election followed months of political turmoil. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which she leads, suffered severe losses in both the Lower and Upper House elections earlier in 2025, as reported by the Associated Press. These setbacks ended the LDP’s longstanding dominance and forced the party to operate from a minority position—a rare scenario in postwar Japanese politics. Shigeru Ishiba, her predecessor, resigned after just one year in office, leaving a three-month leadership vacuum that left many Japanese citizens anxious about the country’s direction.
In the decisive parliamentary vote, Takaichi secured 237 votes in the lower house—just four more than the majority required—while her main rival, Yoshikoko Noda of the Constitutional Democratic Party, garnered 149. The numbers reflect both her political savvy and the fractured state of Japan’s opposition, which has struggled to unite in the face of the LDP’s continued influence. According to NHK public television, Takaichi’s coalition was technically two seats short of a majority, but she managed to clinch victory with support from lawmakers in smaller minority parties she had courted in recent weeks.
The path to her premiership was paved by a last-minute coalition deal with the Osaka-based rightwing Japan Innovation Party, or Ishin no Kai. This alliance, however, is still untested and leaves Takaichi’s government vulnerable to instability. As noted by The Japan Times, the Ishin no Kai’s leaders—Fujita Fumitake and Osaka Governor Yoshimura Hirofumi—have made it clear they will “wait and see” how the LDP fulfills its promises before fully committing to the partnership. This cautious approach means Takaichi must tread carefully to keep her coalition intact, especially since Ishin no Kai has declined to take ministerial posts until they feel confident about the alliance’s future.
The coalition was necessitated by the abrupt departure of the LDP’s longtime partner, the centrist and Buddhist-backed Komeitō party. Komeitō’s exit was triggered by disagreements over campaign finance reform and frustration with the LDP’s handling of slush fund scandals, issues that have dogged Japan’s ruling party for years. Komeitō also expressed concern over Takaichi’s revisionist views on Japan’s wartime history and her regular visits to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, which have drawn ire from Beijing and Seoul. Notably, Takaichi has recently toned down her hawkish rhetoric, opting to send a religious ornament to the shrine instead of visiting in person on the Friday before her election.
Despite her groundbreaking role as Japan’s first female prime minister, Takaichi has shown little inclination to prioritize gender equality or diversity in government. Of the cabinet positions she filled on October 21, only three went to women: Satsuki Katayama as finance minister, Kimi Onoda as economic security minister, and Midori Matsushima as the prime minister’s aide. All three were supporters in the party leadership vote. Takaichi’s stance on social issues remains staunchly conservative—she supports the imperial family’s male-only succession, opposes same-sex marriage, and rejects proposals to allow married couples to use separate surnames. As the Associated Press points out, Takaichi is among those Japanese politicians who have “stonewalled measures for women’s advancement.”
Her cabinet appointments reflect both a pragmatic and conciliatory approach within her own party. Three of her four leadership rivals were given prominent government posts, while the fourth, Kobayashi Takayuki, was made head of the influential LDP policy research council. This move is widely seen as an effort to bridge internal divisions and maintain party unity amid ongoing policy disagreements and personal rivalries. The LDP, once able to manage such differences behind closed doors thanks to its legislative majority, now finds itself forced to negotiate not only with its coalition partner but also with opposition parties to pass budgets and enact new laws.
Economic challenges loom large on Takaichi’s agenda. Rising prices and cost-of-living concerns have dominated public discourse, and there is mounting pressure on the government to provide short-term relief to households while crafting a sustainable long-term growth strategy. Yet, as highlighted by the Council on Foreign Relations, there is no clear consensus within the LDP on how to balance these competing priorities. Takaichi has pledged to compile economy-boosting measures by late December 2025, but with her coalition’s slim grip on power, passing such measures will require deft political maneuvering and compromise.
Foreign policy is another area where Takaichi’s leadership will be tested from the outset. Within days of taking office, she is scheduled to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Tokyo, a meeting expected to underscore the enduring strength of the U.S.-Japan alliance. Takaichi has long advocated for increasing Japan’s security spending to 2 percent of GDP and is committed to deepening trilateral security cooperation with South Korea, Australia, and the Philippines. Her hawkish stance aligns closely with Trump’s views on China, and both leaders are likely to find common ground in their approach to regional security.
Diplomatic challenges abound elsewhere as well. Takaichi is expected to participate in a series of Asian multilateral summits, where she will meet with Chinese and South Korean leaders. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called on Japan to “honor its political commitments on major issues such as history and the Taiwan question,” while South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has expressed hope that Takaichi will continue the recent thaw in bilateral relations. Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te also extended congratulations, reflecting Takaichi’s longstanding advocacy for closer Japan-Taiwan ties.
Takaichi’s personal journey to the top has been anything but conventional. Unlike many of her predecessors, she was not born into a political dynasty. Instead, she carved out her own path through the labyrinth of male-dominated party politics, earning a reputation for policy expertise, straightforwardness, and a steadfast commitment to traditional conservative values. She cites former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as a role model and the late Shinzo Abe as a mentor, and she is expected to continue many of Abe’s policies, including efforts to revise Japan’s pacifist constitution and strengthen the country’s military.
As Japan’s first female prime minister, Takaichi faces the daunting task of leading a minority government, consolidating a fragile coalition, and addressing deep-seated economic and social challenges. She must also navigate a complex and shifting international landscape, balancing relations with the United States, China, South Korea, and Taiwan, while contending with the strategic pressures posed by Russia and North Korea. Her success—or failure—will shape Japan’s future in ways that extend far beyond questions of gender or party politics.
The coming months will reveal whether Takaichi’s historic ascent marks the start of a new era for Japan or simply a temporary detour in the nation’s political journey.
