Japan Elects 1st Female PM, Ultranationalist, Hardline Conservative Sanae Takaichi/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Sanae Takaichi has made history as Japan’s first female prime minister, breaking through the male-dominated political landscape. Known for her hardline conservative views, she has pledged military strength, economic growth, and traditional family values. Her policies and nationalist stance may strain regional relations and limit gender equality progress.
Japan’s First Female PM Quick Looks
- Sanae Takaichi becomes Japan’s first woman prime minister and first female leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
- She is a staunch ultraconservative, aligned with former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s political ideology.
- Takaichi favors strong military policy, nuclear energy expansion, and tougher immigration laws.
- She has avoided feminist rhetoric despite Japan’s low global gender equality rankings.
- Only two women were named ministers in her first cabinet, with a third as a special aide.
- Supports male-only imperial succession and opposes same-sex marriage and surname law reform.
- Her ties to nationalist causes and denial of wartime atrocities raise international concerns.
- Takaichi seeks stronger defense partnerships while promising stable China relations.
Deep Look: Ultranationalist Sanae Takaichi Breaks Gender Barriers in Japan, But Not Without Controversy
TOKYO — October 21, 2025 — In a historic yet polarizing development, Sanae Takaichi has been elected as Japan’s first female prime minister, marking a groundbreaking moment in the country’s political history. At 64, Takaichi has also become the first woman to lead the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has dominated postwar Japanese politics for decades.
But Takaichi’s rise to power does not reflect a progressive shift in gender equality or liberal reform. Rather, it signals a firm shift to the hard-right — a direction deeply rooted in nationalism, traditionalism, and military strength. A devoted admirer of Margaret Thatcher and a political protégé of Shinzo Abe, Takaichi presents a stark contrast to global female leaders known for centrist or left-leaning policies.
Takaichi is a self-described workaholic who has promised to abandon the concept of “work-life balance,” famously telling party members she would “work, work, work and work.” Despite Japan’s poor rankings in global gender equality metrics, she rarely raised gender issues during her campaign and remains reluctant to align herself with feminist discourse.
A Career Forged in Conservatism
First elected in 1993 from her native Nara, Takaichi held key cabinet positions in past governments, including minister of internal affairs, gender equality, and economic security. Though her experience in diplomacy is limited, she has championed policies to strengthen Japan’s military, invest in nuclear fusion, and implement stricter immigration controls.
She is also known for her hawkish stance on China and her controversial visits to Yasukuni Shrine, a location seen by many Asian nations as a symbol of Japan’s wartime militarism. While Takaichi avoided visiting the shrine in person during its autumn festival last week, she sent a ceremonial offering — a move widely viewed as an attempt to reduce friction with Beijing and Seoul.
Cabinet Appointments Reflect Limited Gender Shift
Takaichi’s victory initially sparked hope for broader representation of women in government. However, she appointed just two women as ministers and a third as a special aide, falling short of expectations. Despite pledges to promote more women, critics say her leadership continues to uphold a system that marginalizes female voices within the LDP.
She supports male-only succession to the imperial throne and remains opposed to same-sex marriage and reforming the Meiji-era law requiring married couples to share a surname — positions aligned with Japan’s political old guard.
“Ms. Takaichi’s policies are extremely hawkish, and I doubt she would consider policies to recognize diversity,” said political analyst Chiyako Sato, a senior writer at the Mainichi newspaper.
Despite this, Takaichi has acknowledged the need to educate men about women’s health, referencing her own experiences with menopause as a reason to support women in the workplace. She has also promoted financial support for fertility treatments, though framed within the LDP’s traditional vision of women as mothers and homemakers.
Nationalist Agenda and Regional Repercussions
Takaichi’s leadership marks a turn toward revisionist history and nationalist rhetoric, especially with her support from the Japan Innovation Party (Ishin no Kai). The Buddhist-backed Komeito Party, once a coalition partner of the LDP, withdrew support due to her ultraconservative agenda.
She has consistently denied coercion in the use of Korean laborers and wartime “comfort women” during World War II and backed the removal of references to these issues from Japanese textbooks — positions that could severely impact diplomatic ties in East Asia.
Still, Takaichi insists she will maintain “stable relations with China” and seek stronger security cooperation with South Korea, even as her ideology threatens to reignite historical tensions.
A Symbolic Milestone Amid Political Continuity
While Takaichi’s election marks a significant milestone for gender representation in Japan, the substance of her political platform continues to reinforce male-centric traditions and nationalist conservatism. For many observers, her historic rise is as much a reflection of Japan’s enduring power structures as it is a breakthrough for women in politics.
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