Japan has embarked on a historic new chapter with the ascent of Sanae Takaichi as its prime minister, the first woman to hold the office in the country’s 140-year constitutional history. Sworn in on October 21, 2025, Takaichi’s rise has been nothing short of dramatic, marked by soaring public approval, a flurry of diplomatic breakthroughs, and a fresh, personable style that’s resonating both at home and abroad.
Her path to the top was anything but straightforward. After two unsuccessful bids for party leadership, Takaichi clinched the role in a fiercely contested internal election that went right down to the wire. The timing was tough: the long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) had just lost its majority in both houses of parliament during the previous Ishiba administration. To make matters more complicated, Komeito—the LDP’s moderate coalition partner for 26 years—walked away, citing concerns over Takaichi’s nationalist leanings and the potential loss of its own influence in government. This left Takaichi in an unprecedented position: she needed to stitch together a government without the old, reliable alliances.
Undeterred, Takaichi found common ground with the Japan Innovation Party (Ishin), a like-minded opposition group. While the LDP and Ishin fell short of an outright majority, with support from other parliamentarians, Takaichi managed to form a government—making history in the process. The public response was electric. According to Nikkei Asia, her cabinet’s initial support rate soared to 74 percent, more than 25 points higher than her predecessor’s. Mainichi Shimbun reported it as the seventh highest in the nation’s history. By November 3, a Japan News Network (JNN) poll put her approval at a staggering 82 percent, the second-highest ever for a new cabinet, just behind Junichiro Koizumi’s record in 2001.
This remarkable surge in popularity reflects not only the novelty of her leadership but also a genuine optimism about her policy direction. Takaichi’s inaugural policy speech promised a “responsible proactive fiscal policy,” balancing strategic spending with fiscal discipline. The JNN poll found 58 percent of respondents believed the economy would improve under her stewardship, while only 23 percent doubted it. Her plans to boost defense spending to two percent of GDP by 2027—two years ahead of schedule—garnered the support of 56 percent of those polled, despite the controversy such a move inevitably stirs in Japan’s pacifist-leaning society. On the domestic front, citizens voiced their strongest wishes for eliminating the consumption tax on food and reducing social insurance premiums, highlighting the economic pressures many Japanese face.
But it’s not just numbers and policies that have captured the public’s imagination. Takaichi’s leadership style has been described as “Kansai-style diplomacy”—warm, direct, and disarmingly personal. Born in Nara and educated in Kobe, her approach is shaped by the humor and openness of the Kansai region. Netizens have affectionately dubbed her “the Naniwa Auntie,” a moniker that playfully upends the traditionally stern image of Japanese politicians. As one online comment quipped, “If Trump spoke in Osaka dialect, it’d be hilarious!” Another joked, “Osaka people and New Yorkers actually have the same tempo.”
This authenticity has translated into her diplomatic debut. Within days of taking office, Takaichi was on the move, attending the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia, where she reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to the region and held bilateral meetings with the leaders of Australia and the Philippines. She then rushed back to Tokyo to host U.S. President Donald Trump—a reversal of the usual protocol, which typically sees new Japanese prime ministers heading to Washington. The meeting was hailed as a success, with both leaders declaring a “new golden age for the Japan–U.S. alliance.” Japan reaffirmed its pledge to invest $550 billion in key U.S. sectors, and the two leaders’ rapport was evident as they addressed each other by their first names during a joint visit to the U.S. Naval Base in Yokosuka.
The diplomatic whirlwind continued at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit in South Korea, where Takaichi engaged in “warm and meaningful” talks with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, agreeing to promote “shuttle diplomacy” and build “future-oriented ties.” Her meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping was another highlight, with both leaders affirming the importance of dialogue and multilayered communication. According to Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Xi expressed a willingness to keep lines open and advance bilateral relations “on the right track.” Yet Takaichi did not shy away from tough topics, raising concerns about China’s military activities in the East China Sea and the weaponization of trade, as well as the detention of Japanese nationals in China.
Her diplomatic style has been as down-to-earth as it is effective. At the APEC Summit in Gyeongju, she was spotted sliding her chair closer to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto—a simple gesture that broke the ice and embodied her approachable manner. In another viral moment, Chilean President Gabriel Boric posted a video of Takaichi with her arm around his shoulder, congratulating her on becoming Japan’s first female prime minister. Social media buzzed with comments like, “That’s the kind of distance only a Kansai Auntie could manage!”
Meanwhile, Japan’s newly appointed Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi made waves of his own at APEC 2025. A video of Motegi sampling Imunika, a bio-fermented coffee from a Korea–U.S. startup, went viral—garnering over 4 million views in just 48 hours. “I didn’t expect the video introducing the coffee to be viewed more than four million times,” Motegi admitted. Imunika’s founder, Jinhu Park, described the moment as “serendipitous,” a chance to showcase Korea’s wellness culture and connect leaders from Korea, Japan, and the United States through a shared cup. The company’s patented process, which integrates medicinal mushrooms with coffee beans, aims to support immune health and mental clarity—proof that sometimes, diplomacy happens over coffee as well as in the corridors of power.
Back home, Takaichi faces a daunting domestic agenda. Her government, a minority administration propped up by Ishin and other independents, must negotiate with opposition parties to pass legislation. Ishin, for its part, is pushing to position Osaka as Japan’s “second capital” and advocates for reducing the number of parliamentarians and lowering taxes. While a general election isn’t due until 2028, Takaichi may call a snap vote if her approval ratings hold and she can deliver on her policy promises.
Japan’s new prime minister has ushered in a wave of vitality and optimism, blending bold policy moves with a refreshingly human touch. Whether she can translate this honeymoon into lasting stability and reform remains to be seen, but for now, the country is watching—and, by all accounts, rooting for her.
