Japan Appoints Its First Female Prime Minister, Conservative Sanae Takaichi
Japan has appointed its first female Prime Minister in history: nationalist Sanae Takaichi, who has already disappointed some expectations by appointing only two women ministers in her government.
Ms. Takaichi, 64, was elected by both chambers of the Japanese Parliament to succeed Shigeru Ishiba. Containing her emotions, the new Prime Minister bowed multiple times before the lawmakers.
Her appointment will become official after she meets Emperor Naruhito later in the day.
Sanae Takaichi had won the presidency of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), a right-wing conservative party that has been in power almost uninterrupted since 1955, but has recently lost its majority in both chambers of Parliament, partly due to a financial scandal.
Her traditional ally, the centrist Komeito party, has left their coalition in place since 1999, uncomfortable with the scandal and Ms. Takaichi's conservative views.
She secured her appointment by forming an alliance with the Japan Innovation Party (Ishin), a center-right reformist party.
The longevity of the fifth head of the Japanese government in as many years will depend on "the stability of this coalition," according to Yu Uchiyama, a political science professor at the University of Tokyo.
"Another determining factor will be her decision to call for legislative elections: if she does and loses seats, it could have an extremely negative impact on her image."
- Two Women in Government -
With her appointment, Ms. Takaichi "enters into history," praised European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
However, Ms. Takaichi, who promised a cabinet with a number of women "like in Scandinavia," ultimately named only two, the same number as in Ishiba's government.
These are ultra-conservative Satsuki Katayama, who takes the Finance portfolio, and Kimi Onoda, in charge of Economic Security.
Japan ranks 118th out of 148 in the 2025 World Economic Forum report on the gender gap, and the House of Representatives has only 15% female representation.
Ms. Takaichi's positions on gender equality place her to the right of an already conservative LDP: she opposes revising a law requiring married couples to have the same last name and supports an imperial succession reserved for men.
In the city of Nara (west), where Ms. Takaichi is from, her rise is welcomed: "She has truly climbed the ranks. She has worked hard to get here," said 73-year-old retiree Satoshi Sakamoto to AFP.
As U.S. President Donald Trump is set to visit Japan next week, Mr. Sakamoto expressed his hope that the new leader "will be able to clearly say 'no' when necessary."
Among the potential points of friction are the still unclear contours of the $500 billion investments Japan is considering under its trade agreement with Washington.
Mr. Trump also wants Tokyo to stop importing Russian energy and increase its defense spending.
- Moderated Speech on China -
Ms. Takaichi will also face the challenge of combating Japan's demographic decline and revitalizing the world's fourth-largest economy.
Sanae Takaichi has expressed support for increasing public spending to stimulate the economy, similar to her mentor, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Although she has moderated this rhetoric in recent weeks, her victory has propelled the Tokyo Stock Exchange to record levels.
On the international front, she has previously stated that Japan is "completely despised by China" and that Tokyo must "confront the security threat" posed by Beijing while calling for greater security cooperation with Taiwan.
However, Ms. Takaichi has recently toned down her rhetoric on China and cautiously refrained from visiting the Yasukuni Shrine last week, a symbol for Japan's neighbors of its militaristic past.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry stated it has "noted the results of the Japanese elections" and hopes Tokyo "will fully advance the strategic and mutually beneficial relations" between the two neighbors.
AFP
