Sanae Takaichi, popularly known as a hardliner and patriarchal, is all set to become the first female Prime Minister of Japan. Interestingly, the Japanese women are not at all happy with the rise of the 64-year-old lady, who is a fan of Margaret Hilda Thatcher, the first female Prime Minister of Britain. As far as Takaichi’s track record is concerned, she opposed legislation, allowing women to keep their maiden names after marriage, in the past. She reportedly said that it was against Japanese tradition. Takaichi, who is also against same sex marriage, is one of the most radical members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

In September 2025, Shigeru Ishiba decided to step down after serving as the Prime Minister for less than a year, following two major election debacles. His performance came into question after he lost the majority in the 248-seat Upper House of the Japanese Parliament in July 2025. Ishiba came to know that the LDP was ready to hold an internal leadership vote that could have forced him out. A couple of weeks after he tendered his resignation, the LDP elected Takaichi as its new leader. The toughest challenge she faces is to resolve the internal conflicts in the party, apart from bringing inflation under control by boosting the sluggish economy of Japan.

Also, Takaichi would have to win the trust of Japanese women as she triggered a controversy by claiming that girls should first and foremost be good wives and mothers. The LDP leadership, too, backs her opinion. She also wants the Imperial Family of Japan to stick to its male-only succession rules. The majority of Japanese women believe that the new Prime Minister could hinder their fight for Women’s Rights.

Talking to AFP, Yuki Tsuji, a Professor of Gender Politics at Tokai University, has stressed that Takaichi “has no interest in Women’s Rights or Gender Equality policies“. “Therefore, it is unlikely that any change will occur in this policy area compared to previous LDP administrations,” she said. According to Tsuji, the symbolic significance of having a woman as premier is “quite substantial“. However, the pressure will be high to achieve results, and if she fails “this could foster negative perceptions of female Prime Ministers“, added the professor.

The Associated Press (AP) has reported that the LDP has relatively few women ministers or officials. Takaichi, herself, is more loyal to the top male leaders of her party. Although Takaichi’s conservative, traditional views have drawn criticism from women and feminists, she has spoken publicly about the importance of educating men on women’s health issues. Experts have opined that her stance is based on her personal experience with menopause that she believes necessitates greater awareness to help women at the workplaces and schools. According to political analysts, she made an attempt to present a more moderate image of her after being elected as party leader. However, people are still concerned about her hardline conservative views.

Takaichi has reportedly advocated for stricter immigration policies in Japan after becoming the party leader. She has also hinted that she would strengthen the Japanese Armed Forces as she is hawkish on security. As far as the defence sector is concerned, Takaichi has announced that her government would spend at least 2% of the GDP, doubling its long-standing 1% ceiling, and boost the domestic arms industries. She also made it clear that her government would follow the conservative path shown by former Prime Minister (and her political mentor) Shinzo Abe for the country’s overall development and revise the Pacifist Constitution of the country.

It seems that the hawkish profile of Takaichi would complicate Japan’s relations with China and South Korea as the new Prime Minister would try to maintain her nationalist position. Balancing domestic legitimacy with regional diplomacy will certainly test her leadership quality in the coming months. Takaichi, the former heavy-metal drummer, was an enthusiastic motorbike rider in her youth.

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Published by Koushik Das

Koushik Das (born on May 16, 1976 in Kolkata) is a career journalist. Based in the Indian capital of New Delhi, Koushik writes mainly about foreign policies and current geopolitical issues, and rarely about other topics. His own political ideas are highly influenced by Antonio Gramsci, Louis Althusser, Michel Foucault, Michael Oakeshott and others. English philosopher and political theorist Oakeshott (Dec 11, 1901-Dec 19, 1990) says that “in political activity, men sail a boundless and bottomless sea. There is neither harbour for shelter nor floor for anchorage, neither starting-place, nor appointed destination. But we have to keep afloat”. (Rationalism in Politics, 1962) As a student of Political Science, Koushik loves to share his views on issues, which have great impacts on his thought process (and also on India, South Asia and of course on the global community), with his readers through his website – Boundless Ocean of Politics. By doing so, he tries to keep himself afloat. You will find some of his articles in https://inserbia.info/today/ (https://inserbia.info/today/author/kou_das13_i/), as he has been trying to assess the global geopolitics since 2003. You can also mail him at kousdas@gmail.com View all posts by Koushik Das