- Sanae Takaichi has become Japan’s first-ever female prime minister, a landmark moment for a nation with low rankings in gender equality.
- Despite this milestone, Takaichi is an ultraconservative politician who does not champion feminist causes, advocating for traditional gender roles and opposing same-sex marriage.
- She is a political successor to the late Shinzo Abe, holds hawkish views on China and immigration, and has drawn controversy for her revisionist stance on WWII history.
- Often compared to Margaret Thatcher, she has also cultivated a friendly relationship with former U.S. President Donald Trump.
A Historic Moment Shrouded in Controversy
Japan has made history by electing Sanae Takaichi as its first female prime minister. However, the celebration of this milestone is tempered by her deeply conservative political ideology, leaving many to question what her leadership will mean for women and minorities in the country.
Takaichi, 64, ascended to the nation’s highest office after winning the leadership of the conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Her victory, secured through an alliance with a right-wing populist party, signals a further rightward shift in Japanese politics.
The “Iron Lady” of Japan
Often compared to the late British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher—a figure she openly admires—Takaichi has carved out a reputation as a staunch conservative. Jeffrey Hall, a lecturer at Kanda University of International Studies, describes her as “one of the most conservative people in Japan’s conservative LDP.”
Her policy stances include:
- Hawkish Foreign Policy: She advocates for a hardline stance against China.
- Strict Immigration Controls: Takaichi has called for an anti-espionage law and restrictions on non-Japanese people buying property.
- Historical Revisionism: She has downplayed Japan’s aggression during World War II and has been known to visit the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, which honors convicted war criminals among Japan’s war dead.
An Unlikely Path to Power
Unlike many of her predecessors, Takaichi does not come from a political dynasty. Born to a father who worked at an automotive firm and a mother in the local police department, she paid her own way through Kobe University. Her political career began after a fellowship in the U.S. Congress with Rep. Pat Schroeder, which she leveraged into a television career before being elected to parliament in 1993.
She was a key and long-serving minister under the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, whose conservative legacy she sees herself as continuing.
Not a Champion for Gender Equality
For a country that ranks 118th out of 148 nations in gender equality, the appointment of a female leader is significant. Yet, Takaichi is not expected to advance feminist causes. She supports traditional gender roles, opposes same-sex marriage, and believes women should not be allowed to keep their maiden names after marriage.
After campaigning on a promise to increase the number of women in her cabinet to “Nordic levels” (around 50%), she appointed only two. This has confirmed fears that her premiership will be a symbolic gain for women, rather than a substantive one.
A Surprising Persona and a Nod to Trump
Beyond her tough political exterior, Takaichi has a well-known affinity for heavy metal music, citing bands like Deep Purple and Iron Maiden as favorites. This unconventional interest, along with a love for motorcycles, has helped shape her public image as more than just a stern “Iron Lady.”
On the international stage, Takaichi has already established a friendly rapport with former U.S. President Donald Trump, who praised her as “a highly respected person of great wisdom and strength.” She responded warmly, expressing hope to work with him to strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance, signaling a potential continuation of the close relationship Trump shared with Shinzo Abe.