Lawmakers applaud as Sanae Takaichi, standing, was elected as Japan’s new prime minister through the extraordinary session of the decrease home, in Tokyo, Oct. 21, 2025.
Eugene Hoshiko/AP
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Eugene Hoshiko/AP
TOKYO — Japan’s parliament elected ultraconservative Sanae Takaichi because the nation’s first feminine prime minister Tuesday, a day after her struggling get together struck a coalition take care of a brand new associate anticipated to tug her governing bloc additional to the precise.
Takaichi replaces Shigeru Ishiba, ending a three-month political vacuum and wrangling for the reason that Liberal Democratic Occasion’s disastrous election loss in July.
Ishiba, who lasted just one yr as prime minister, resigned together with his Cupboard earlier within the day, paving the way in which for his successor.
Takaichi gained 237 votes — 4 greater than a majority — in comparison with 149 gained by Yoshikoko Noda, head of the biggest opposition get together, the Constitutional Democratic Occasion of Japan, within the decrease home, which elects the prime minister. Because the outcomes had been introduced, Takaichi stood up and bowed deeply.
The LDP’s alliance with the Osaka-based rightwing Japan Innovation Occasion, or Ishin no Kai, ensured her premiership as a result of the opposition will not be united. Takaichi’s untested alliance remains to be wanting a majority in each homes of parliament and might want to court docket different opposition teams to move any laws — a danger that would make her authorities unstable and short-lived.
The 2 events signed a coalition settlement on insurance policies underscoring Takaichi’s hawkish and nationalistic views.
Their last-minute deal got here after the Liberal Democrats misplaced its longtime associate, the Buddhist-backed Komeito, which has a extra dovish and centrist stance. The breakup threatened a change of energy for the LDP, which has ruled Japan virtually uninterrupted for many years.
Tackling rising costs and different financial measures is the highest precedence for the Takaichi authorities, LDP Secretary Normal Shunichi Suzuki advised NHK public tv as he apologized over the delay due to the get together’s inside energy battle for the reason that July election. He mentioned the brand new coalition will cooperate with different opposition events to rapidly sort out rising costs to “stay as much as the expectations of the folks.”
Later within the day, Takaichi, 64, will current a Cupboard with a variety of allies of LDP’s strongest kingmaker, Taro Aso, and others who backed her within the get together management vote.
JIP is not going to maintain ministerial posts in Takaichi’s Cupboard till his get together is assured about its partnership with the LDP, Yoshimura mentioned.
Takaichi is working on deadline, as she prepares for a significant coverage speech later this week, talks with U.S. President Donald Trump and regional summits. She must rapidly sort out rising costs and compile economy-boosting measures by late December to deal with public frustration.
Whereas she is the primary lady serving as Japan’s prime minister, she is in no rush to advertise gender equality or range.
Takaichi is amongst Japanese politicians who’ve stonewalled measures for ladies’s development. Takaichi helps the imperial household’s male-only succession and opposes same-sex marriage and permitting separate surnames for married {couples}.
A protege of assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Takaichi is anticipated to emulate his insurance policies together with a stronger army and financial system, in addition to revising Japan’s pacifist structure. Along with her probably weak grip on energy, it is unknown how a lot Takaichi will be capable of obtain.
Additionally an admirer of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Takaichi was first elected to parliament in 1993 and has served in a variety of senior get together and authorities posts, together with as ministers of financial safety and inside affairs, however her diplomatic background is skinny.
When Komeito left the governing coalition, it cited the LDP’s lax response to slush fund scandals that led to their consecutive election defeats.
The centrist get together additionally raised concern about Takaichi’s revisionist view of Japan’s wartime previous and her common prayers at Yasukuni Shrine regardless of protests from Beijing and Seoul that see the visits as lack of regret about Japanese aggression, in addition to her latest xenophobic remarks.
Takaichi has toned down her hawkish rhetoric. On Friday, she despatched a spiritual decoration as a substitute of going to Yasukuni.
