Japan has turned a dramatic page in its political history with the election of Sanae Takaichi as the nation’s first female prime minister, following a decisive victory in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership race on October 4, 2025. Takaichi, 64, a hardline conservative known for her nationalist views and admiration for Margaret Thatcher, prevailed over centrist rival Shinjiro Koizumi in a runoff that signals a clear rightward shift for the ruling party and for Japanese politics as a whole, according to reporting from Bloomberg and Reuters.
The LDP leadership was up for grabs after the resignation of Shigeru Ishiba, a moderate who stepped down in September 2025 amid party turmoil and declining support. Takaichi’s victory, which positions her to be confirmed as prime minister in a parliamentary vote expected on October 15, comes at a time of considerable uncertainty for Japan. The LDP and its coalition partner had lost their majorities in both houses under Ishiba’s leadership, prompting a crisis of confidence and a scramble for new direction. As Bloomberg notes, the party’s choice of Takaichi is a calculated bet to win back disaffected younger voters who have been flocking to smaller, more populist parties like the arch-conservative Sanseito, as well as to address public anger over rising prices and economic stagnation.
Takaichi is no stranger to the spotlight. Known as Japan’s “Iron Lady” for her tough demeanor and her penchant for heavy metal music, she has long been a champion of strong national defense, economic security, and a more assertive foreign policy. Her leadership marks a return to the kind of expansionary fiscal policies popularized by the late Shinzo Abe, whose “Abenomics” strategy she has pledged to continue. According to Reuters, Takaichi criticized recent interest rate hikes by the Bank of Japan and has advocated for aggressive government spending to stimulate growth—a stance that has unsettled some investors wary of Japan’s already massive debt load. "The BOJ's monetary policy must account for the fragility of the economy and wage growth," she said at a post-victory press conference, while also pledging to "cut taxes and increase subsidies" but stressing "the importance of fiscal prudence."
Her economic agenda is only one part of a broader conservative platform. Takaichi has promised to prioritize public safety, tighten immigration rules, and introduce new legislation to limit property ownership by foreigners—a move that echoes the anti-globalist rhetoric of the Sanseito party. She has repeatedly criticized criminal activity involving foreign nationals and warned of the social impacts of rising immigration, a theme she hammered home in her campaign kickoff by referencing incidents of tourists kicking sacred deer in her hometown of Nara. "We hope she will... steer Japanese politics in an 'anti-globalism' direction to protect national interests and help the people regain prosperity and hope," Sanseito said in a statement cited by Reuters.
On the international front, Takaichi’s hardline stance is expected to reverberate across the region. She has been outspoken in her criticism of China and North Korea, and has called for a strengthening of Japan’s national defense capabilities. Her regular visits to the controversial Yasukuni shrine—which honors Japan’s war dead and is seen in China and South Korea as a symbol of past militarism—have already raised eyebrows among Japan’s neighbors. In response to her election, South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung expressed hope for continued positive relations, stating that his office would "cooperate to maintain the positive momentum in South Korea-Japan relations."
Takaichi has also floated the idea of revising Japan’s pacifist postwar constitution and suggested forming a “quasi-security alliance” with Taiwan, a move that could further strain ties with Beijing. Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te welcomed her election, calling her a "steadfast friend of Taiwan" and expressing 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." According to Reuters, Takaichi plans to travel overseas more frequently than her predecessor to promote the message that "Japan is Back!" and to reinforce the country’s strategic partnerships, particularly with the United States.
The relationship with Washington will face an early test when U.S. President Donald Trump visits Japan on October 27. Takaichi has pledged to honor an investment deal with Trump that reduced American tariffs in exchange for Japanese taxpayer-backed investment, despite previously considering renegotiation. The U.S. ambassador to Japan, George Glass, congratulated Takaichi on social media, saying he looked forward to strengthening the bilateral partnership "on every front." Takaichi has also vowed to push back against any U.S. tariffs she deems "unfair," signaling a willingness to defend Japanese interests robustly in trade talks.
Domestically, Takaichi’s ascent is being watched closely as a milestone for gender equality in Japan’s male-dominated political landscape. She was the only woman among the five LDP leadership candidates and has pledged to increase the number of women in her cabinet to levels comparable with Nordic countries. "The fact that a woman was chosen might be seen positively. I think it shows that Japan is truly starting to change and that message is getting across," said Misato Kikuchi, a Tokyo office worker, to Reuters. However, Takaichi’s socially conservative positions—such as her opposition to allowing married couples to have separate surnames—have made her more popular among men than women, according to opinion polls.
Her victory speech struck a tone of urgency and renewal. "Recently, I have heard harsh voices from across the country saying we don't know what the LDP stands for anymore," Takaichi told party members before the runoff vote. "That sense of urgency drove me. I wanted to turn people's anxieties about their daily lives and the future into hope." After her win, she declared, "I have thrown away my own work-life balance and I will work, work, work," pledging a "new era" of governance focused on national strength and economic security.
As Japan prepares for Takaichi’s formal confirmation as prime minister, the nation—and its neighbors—are bracing for the impact of her bold, sometimes polarizing, vision. Whether her leadership will restore the LDP’s fortunes and chart a new course for Japan remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the era of Sanae Takaichi has begun, and the world is watching.
