Japan elects first female PM Sanae Takaichi in historic vote
Conservative leader Sanae Takaichi has shattered Japan’s highest glass ceiling, becoming the nation’s first woman prime minister as she faces immediate pressure to tackle inflation.
A female politician and former heavy metal drummer being dubbed as Japan’s Margaret Thatcher has made history as the country’s first woman prime minister.
Social conservative Sanae Takaichi was voted in by parliament just days ahead of US President Donald Trump’s visit to Japan and said she wants “candid discussions” with the US president when he arrives next week.
Japan’s fifth premier in as many years leads a minority government and in her first remarks in office, said her priority was to tackle inflation, a major source of anger among voters, and would soon draft an “economic package” to deal with rising prices.
A longtime admirer of metal bands like Iron Maiden, and of UK conservative prime minister Margaret Thatcher, Takaichi became head of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on October 4, but its coalition collapsed days later.
This forced her to form an alliance with the reformist, right-leaning Japan Innovation Party (JIP), which was signed on Monday.
Takaichi, 64, was approved by parliament as prime minister on Tuesday and formally took office.
Her first challenge will be Mr Trump’s visit, during which she plans to discuss bilateral issues as well as the broader Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East, and Ukraine.
The US leader wants Tokyo to stop Russian energy imports and boost defence spending.
“I want to build relationships of trust,” she told journalists.
Being in a minority in both houses of parliament, the new coalition will need support from other parties to push through legislation.
Japan hosts around 54,000 US military personnel and the close ally of Washington is part of the Quad group, along with Australia and India, which is seen as a counter to Beijing.
Takaichi’s many other political challenges include Japan’s declining population as well as the flatlining economy.
She grew up in humble circumstances in the city of Nara, on Japan’s main island, known for its wild deer that roam freely in Nara Park.
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Takaichi for “making history” as Japan’s first woman premier.
â–¼Ms. TAKAICHI Sanae has been designated as the 104th Prime Minister. pic.twitter.com/1j5wXPHZuo
— PM's Office of Japan (@JPN_PMO) October 21, 2025
So far, Takaichi has named two other women in her 19-strong cabinet, with Satsuki Katayama in charge of finances and the Japanese-American Kimi Onoda taking on the economic security portfolio. She has promised to add more.
Japan ranked 118 out of 148 in the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Global Gender Gap Report. Around 15 per cent of lower house MPs are women.
Takaichi has said she hopes to raise awareness about women’s health struggles and has spoken candidly about her own experience with menopause.
But she is seen as socially conservative, opposing revising a 19th-century law requiring married couples to share the same surname, and wants the imperial family to stick to male-only succession.
Speaking to the New York Times, Takaichi’s hairdresser revealed that he created her distinctive close-cropped pixie cut to expose her eyes and eyes, so that voters would know she sees them and listens.
Her political mentor, former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe was assassinated during a campaign speech near Nara, Japan in 2022.
- with AFP
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