Japan’s Sanae Takaichi has made history as the country’s first female prime minister, following a decisive vote in parliament on Tuesday that elevated the veteran conservative to Japan’s top political office.
Takaichi, 64, won the lower house ballot by 237 to 149 votes over opposition leader Yoshihiko Noda of the Constitutional Democratic Party, before securing victory in the upper house with a 125–46 margin. Her election marks a major breakthrough for women in Japanese politics, where female representation remains among the lowest in the developed world.
A longtime member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and a protégé of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Takaichi is known for her strong views on national defense and her call to revise Japan’s pacifist constitution. She has previously served as minister of economic security, internal affairs, and gender equality.
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However, the new prime minister faces an uphill task in uniting a divided parliament. The LDP recently lost its centrist coalition partner, Komeito, and is still reeling from corruption scandals and public dissatisfaction over the rising cost of living. A deal with the right-leaning Japan Innovation Party (Ishin) has kept the LDP in power, but with a slimmer majority.
Analysts say Sanae Takaichi must move quickly to restore public confidence and strengthen the economy before turning to diplomatic challenges, including an upcoming visit by U.S. President Donald Trump.