Conservative Sanae Takaichi becomes the first woman to govern Japan

The conservative leader Sanae Takaichiknown for her hard line towards China, became the first woman to govern on Tuesday Japanafter forging a last-minute coalition agreement.

The 64-year-old politician will be the fifth person to lead the Asian country in as many years. He takes over a minority government with a packed agenda, including a visit by US President Donald Trump next week to Tokyo.

Parliament appointed Takaichi, an admirer of the British, as prime minister Margaret Thatcherafter he unexpectedly won the majority in the first round of voting to succeed Shigeru Ishiba.

He will formally take office after meeting Emperor Naruhito later.

This former heavy metal drummer was appointed on October 4 as leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has ruled Japan almost continuously for decades but has become increasingly unpopular.

Six days later he lost his coalition partner, the minority Komeito party, which disagrees with his conservative stances and an LDP financing scandal.

That forced Takaichi to form an alliance with the Japan Innovation Party (PIJ), signed on Monday.

The conservative leader promised to “strengthen the Japanese economy and reorganize Japan as a country that can be responsible to future generations“.

“She is a person of strong character, regardless of being a woman,” 76-year-old retiree Toru Takahashi told AFP in Nara, Takaichi’s hometown. “It’s not like Trump. But he is clear about what is right and what is wrong.”

More women?

Although Takaichi had promised a cabinet with a women’s “nordic” levelthis Tuesday only named two female officials among his 19 ministers, like his predecessor.

It is the ultraconservative Satsuki Katayamawhich assumes the Finance portfolio, and Kimi Onodain Economic Security.

Japan ranked 118 out of 148 in the Global Gender Gap Report 2025 of the World Economic Forum.

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Around 15% of the seats in the Lower House are held by women and the boards of directors of companies are largely made up of men.

Takaichi said she hopes to raise awareness about women’s health issues and has spoken openly about her own experience with menopause.

However, opposes revision of 19th-century law requiring married couples to share the same last name and wants the imperial family to maintain exclusively male succession.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday congratulated Takaichi for “making history” with his appointment.

Trump, economy and China

Among the other challenges awaiting Takaichi are the details of the trade agreement between Washington and Tokyo, which remain unresolved. Amid his tariff war, Trump wants Japan to stop importing Russian energy and increase defense spending.

“I would like her to be a prime minister who can clearly say ‘no’ when necessary,” said Satoshi Sakamoto, 73, another Nara retiree.

The new prime minister will also have to deal with Japan’s declining population and inject dynamism into a stagnant economy.

In the past, Takaichi has supported aggressive monetary easing and increased public spending, echoing his mentor, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Despite backing down on those proposals in the LDP leadership race, his victory propelled Japanese stocks to all-time highs.

On Chinahas declared that the Asian giant “completely belittles Japan” and that Tokyo must “address the security threat” posed by Beijing.

However, he has since softened his rhetoric.

For example, last week he did not attend a ceremony at the Santuario de Yasukuni —where he usually went— in honor of those who died in Japan’s wars, a symbol for neighboring countries of Japan’s imperialist past.

Beijing assured this Tuesday that “took note of the result” of the Japanese election and that he hopes to “advance” in his relations with Tokyo, which he urged to “fulfill its political commitments on important issues, such as history and Taiwan.”