Abrar Shahriar
Centuries after Japan’s earliest recorded female ruler, Queen Himiko of the third century, and nearly 250 years after Empress Go-Sakuramachi served as a ceremonial monarch under Shogunate control, Japan has once again witnessed a woman ascend to its highest political office. Sanae Takaichi, the first woman in 2,000 years to lead Japan, marking a momentous milestone in the nation’s history. Her appointment comes just seventeen days after winning the leadership race of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Yesterday, she narrowly secured the position of prime minister with a modest majority in the lower house of the Diet (House of Representatives).
Takaichi’s rise follows a turbulent period in Japanese politics. Under outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, the LDP lost its majority in both chambers for the first time in decades. Although it remains the largest political party, it no longer has enough seats to pass legislation independently. The party’s long-time coalition partner, Komeito, withdrew its support two weeks earlier after Takaichi appointed a scandal-tainted politician to a senior position. In an effort to regain stability, she struck a fragile alliance with Nippon Ishin no Kai, a right-wing Osaka-based party and the third-largest in the lower house. With Ishin’s backing and the support of a few independents, she managed to form a slim majority government.
However, this alliance remains fragile. Ishin has declined cabinet positions and insists on pursuing its own reform agenda, including reducing the number of Diet seats and designating Osaka as Japan’s ‘sub-capital.’ Political analyst Tobias Harris summarised the situation by noting that “Takaichi will lead a minority government dependent on Ishin’s support, which will last only as long as she implements policies that align with their agenda.”
Takaichi, 64, is a staunch conservative and nationalist, often described as Japan’s most right-wing leader since World War II. A long-time ally of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, she shares his assertive foreign policy stance and maintains warm ties with U.S. President Donald Trump. Takaichi has questioned Japan’s long-standing ban on hosting U.S. nuclear weapons and advocates for increasing defense spending, aiming to reach two percent of GDP by March 2026- two years ahead of schedule. Her government also intends to revise three key defence and security strategy documents by the end of 2026. In her first press conference as prime minister, she declared, “Japan is confronting serious domestic and international challenges. There is no time for hesitation.”
Known for her discipline and strong will, Takaichi idolises former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, praising her “determination, conviction, and feminine warmth.” Like Thatcher, Takaichi’s modest background, her mother a police officer and her father employed by an automobile company, distinguishes her from Japan’s dynastic political class. Yet unlike Thatcher’s fiscal conservatism, Takaichi supports expansive government spending and looser monetary policy, in line with the late Abe’s Abenomics programme. She favours tax cuts, greater state involvement in the Bank of Japan, and more aggressive stimulus measures, though analysts warn that such policies could unsettle investor confidence in Japan’s already heavily indebted economy.
Her immediate diplomatic challenge is with Trump with his Tokyo visit where both nations seeks balance between domestic reforms and global expectations.. Outside politics, Takaichi is known for her unconventional interests. She was a drummer in a rock band and a motorcycle enthusiast. Yet, her frequent visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, honouring Japan’s war including convicted war criminals, have provoked criticism from neighbouring countries such as China and South Korea, where the shrine is seen as a symbol of Japan’s wartime aggression.
Takaichi’s views on gender equality remain deeply conservative. Japan has long struggled with gender inequality. Women hold only about sixteen percent of the seats in the lower house, and the country consistently ranks low in global gender equality indices. While her ascent has been hailed as a symbolic breakthrough, many remain skeptical that it will bring meaningful change. Although she pledged to model her cabinet after Nordic countries with gender-balanced representation, her current cabinet includes only two women- no improvement from her predecessor’s lineup.
She does not identify as a feminist and has expressed traditional views on women’s roles in society, emphasising their responsibilities as wives and mothers. She opposes reforms allowing married couples to retain separate surnames and supports the continuation of male-only succession to Japan’s imperial throne. Critics argue that these stances reinforce the very social structures that have historically constrained women. Nevertheless, some young women idolise inspiration. Hikari Minagawa, a student at Otsuma Women’s University in Tokyo, said, “She’s strong and inspiring- someone who can give women confidence to step forward.”
Political experts suggest that Takaichi’s selection reflects the LDP’s attempt to signal renewal rather than a genuine commitment to gender equality. Political scientist Mari Miura observed that “the glass ceiling wasn’t shattered; it just cracked slightly.” Similarly, opposition lawmaker Kiyomi Tsujimoto remarked, “Expecting one woman to transform an entire system is unfair. The responsibility lies with the LDP as a whole.”
As she steps into office, Takaichi faces the challenge of balancing her fragile coalition, addressing economic uncertainties, and navigating Japan’s complex diplomatic landscape. While many citizens take pride in witnessing their first female leader, analysts caution that her conservative ideology and limited political leverage could constrain her effectiveness. Without tangible achievements, Sanae Takaichi risks being remembered not as a transformative reformer, but as a symbolic figure in Japan’s long and intricate political history.
The writer is a Postgraduate student, International Relations at University of Dhaka
