Kathmandu. There has been a historic turning point in Japan’s politics. Sane Takaichi has become the first woman to be elected president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). With this, she is in a strong position to become the first female Prime Minister of Japan after being approved by Japan’s parliament.
The 64-year-old Takaichi’s success marks a major milestone in long-dominated male-dominated Japanese politics. However, his staunch nationalist stance and controversial policy views have sparked a new debate on Japan’s future direction and international relations.
Born in 1961 in Nara Prefecture, Takeichi is a graduate of Kobe University. She entered politics as an independent candidate in 1993 after working as a writer, broadcaster and aide to legislators. After joining the LDP in 1996, she became a confidant of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
In her long political career, she has held several key portfolios, including interior and communications minister and economic security minister under former prime minister Kishida Fumio. She won the 2025 elections to lead the LDP despite failing in 2021 and 2024.
Takaiichi is known for her staunch conservative and nationalist views. She is in favour of continuing the expansionist fiscal policy of former Prime Minister Abe. She aims to strengthen national security and the economy by investing in key industries such as semiconductors, biotechnology and defense.
Takeichi advocates strengthening the U.S.-Japan alliance and amending Article 9 of Japan’s pacifist constitution. His stance on domestic affairs is traditional. She opposes same-sex marriage and the right for married couples to use a separate surname.
Takaichi’s political journey is not without controversy. His visit to the Yasukuni shrine, which honours those convicted of war crimes, has sparked diplomatic tensions with neighbouring countries such as China and South Korea. He is also a member of the nationalist group Nippon Kaigi, which has been accused of downplaying Japanese war crimes in the past.
As president, Takaichi now faces internal challenges such as the LDP’s lack of a parliamentary majority, an ageing population, and a complex international relationship with China and Korea due to his nationalist stance.
The rise of women’s leadership in Japanese politics is a watershed moment. However, the question of where his hardline ideology will take the country on both domestic and international fronts is now a matter of concern around the world.
Meanwhile, Japan’s stock market has climbed to an all-time high as Takeichi is running to become the country’s first prime minister. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index rose nearly 4.5% on Monday afternoon in Tokyo and rose above 47,000 points for the first time.
