Sanae Takaichi Becomes Japan’s First Female Prime Minister

Tokyo — Sanae Takaichi was elected as Japan’s next Prime Minister on Tuesday, making history as the first woman ever to hold the position. Her election followed a runoff vote in Parliament that confirmed her as the successor to former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

Takaichi won 125 votes in the Upper House, narrowly crossing the required simple majority, after earlier securing 237 votes in the Lower House, exceeding the necessary 233-vote threshold.

A former television anchor, the 64-year-old politician began her journey in 1993 when she won a seat in the Lower House as an independent representative from her home prefecture of Nara. She later joined the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in 1996 and went on to serve in multiple ministerial roles, including as Minister of State for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs under former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Takaichi became the first woman to chair the LDP’s Policy Research Council and holds the record as Japan’s longest-serving Minister for Internal Affairs, having held the post across several administrations. Between 2022 and 2024, she served as Minister for Economic Security, a position she helped shape to protect Japan’s technological and supply chain interests.

On Saturday, Takaichi clinched victory in the LDP leadership election, defeating rival Shinjiro Shinjiro in a runoff after no candidate secured a majority in the initial round. She received 185 votes to Shinjiro’s 156, earning her the mandate to lead both the party and the government.

Her premiership will last for the remainder of Shigeru Ishiba’s term, which ends in September 2027.

Following her win, former Justice Minister Midori Matsushima, one of her early supporters, expressed elation at seeing Japan finally elect a woman as its leader.

“The first female Prime Minister is here. I’m so happy that I could witness this. I hope this gives courage to many young women — especially those not born into political families — to believe that they too can lead,” Matsushima told the Japan Times.

Takaichi’s rise comes at a crucial moment for Japan, as the nation grapples with stagnant growth, rising prices, and a weakening yen. The LDP faces the challenge of restoring public confidence after recent electoral setbacks and internal divisions.

As she takes office, Takaichi’s immediate priorities will include reviving the economy, managing Japan’s strained political alliances, and reasserting stability within the ruling coalition.

With inputs from IANS