Sanae Takaichi breaks the glass ceiling and becomes Japan's first female head of government
He forms a new conservative alliance, overcoming the breakup of the coalition with Komeito, and appoints a woman to head the Finance Ministry for the first time.
TokyoThe National Diet of Japan has appointed this Tuesday Sanae Takaichi as Japan's new prime minister, following the resignation of her predecessor, Shigeru Ishiba. The leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) makes history by becoming the first woman to hold the position of head of government in the country, a milestone that breaks the glass ceiling in one of the most masculinized political structures in the world. Her election marks the beginning of a new political era in Japan, in a context of internal challenges and global tensions, and she has already received congratulations from several international leaders.
The new executive will combine continuity and symbolic gestures, such as the fact that all the rivals that the new prime minister defeated in the internal elections of the Liberal Democratic Party have been rewarded with key portfolios, a move that seeks to reinforce internal unity and stabilize the party. Shinjiro Koizumi will assume the Ministry of Defense; Toshimitsu Motegi will be the new Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Yoshimasa Hayashi will take over the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but one of the most notable decisions is the appointment of Satsuki Katayama as Minister of Finance—the first woman in the country's history to hold this position—which would extend the historic character of Takaichi's government.
Despite the commitment to internal cohesion, the investiture has not been a bed of roses: Komeito, a conservative Buddhist party that was a governing partner for almost a quarter of a century, left the coalition after intense disagreements over the political direction and some key measures and left the LDP. The center-left opposition attempted to agree on an alternative candidate to block her coming to power, but failed to garner enough support. Faced with this vacuum, Takaichi acted swiftly and tactically: she forged a new alliance with the Japan Innovation Party (JIP) and other smaller groups, which allowed her to achieve the parliamentary majority necessary to be appointed prime minister.
The result is a functional but unstable coalition that will strongly influence his administration's agenda. Komeito's departure underscores the fragility of Takaichi's political leeway and will force him to soften both conservative policies and the reforms he intended to push through in areas such as national security and immigration, as well as economic measures to prevent further partner withdrawals. Furthermore, the speed with which he has built support with the JIP demonstrates his maneuverability, but also raises questions about the government's programmatic coherence and its ability to manage tensions with China and the United States and convince markets and investors in a context of economic weakness and demographic crisis.
Trump's visit at the end of the month, the acid test
These will not be the only problems that will shape Takaichi's term: persistent inflation and rising living costs are putting pressure on households and fueling voter discontent, while the economy suffers an uneven recovery amid a weak yen. Furthermore, the demographic crisis is leaving a structural labor shortage—particularly in the healthcare sector—forcing companies to turn to foreign workers despite an often reticent public opinion and an increasingly restrictive immigration policy. And, against this backdrop, an emerging far right capable of setting the agenda on identity and immigration is further straining society and complicating any balanced reform. In this context, the new prime minister will have to combine real economic solutions with governing gestures that calm public opinion and guarantee resources for the country's demographic and productive transformation.
On the international stage, Takaichi's first test will soon arrive, with the visit of US President Donald Trump, scheduled for the end of the month. The meeting will be key to assessing the rapport between the two leaders and the continued strategic alliance between Washington and Tokyo. Takaichi, who shares Trump's markedly nationalist rhetoric and populist approach, could find initial ideological affinity, but will have to balance it with pragmatism to preserve Japan's trade and security interests. The most pressing issues on the table are the tariff agreement and the renewal of defense cooperation, at a time of regional instability and uncertainty about the US role in the Asia-Pacific.