Sanae Takaichi: From Heavy Metal Drummer to Japan's First Woman Prime Minister

Sanae Takaichi celebrates with PM Shigeru Ishiba after winning LDP leadership election

Sanae Takaichi, the newly elected conservative leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, is poised to become Japan's first female prime minister, though analysts caution this doesn't represent a feminist milestone.

The 64-year-old, who secured victory in Saturday's party leadership election, has established herself as a hardline figure prioritizing national defense and economic security.

She defeated 44-year-old Shinjiro Koizumi, the surfing son of a former premier who represented generational change, and the experienced but less charismatic Yoshimasa Hayashi.

Once parliament confirms her position, which is highly anticipated, Takaichi will make history as Japan's first woman head of government and the country's fifth leader in five years.

The LDP has been losing voter support due to inflation and a recent slush fund scandal, while the anti-immigration Sanseito party gains momentum.

To reclaim these voters, Takaichi has adopted strong positions on immigration and foreign tourism, issues that became central in the LDP leadership contest.

As a former economic security minister, she has historically been outspoken against China's military expansion in the Asia-Pacific region.

She has regularly visited the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, which honors convicted war criminals alongside 2.5 million war dead and is viewed by neighboring Asian nations as a symbol of Japan's militaristic past.

Notably, during the recent LDP race, she moderated her rhetoric—a significant shift from last year's election when she promised to visit Yasukuni as prime minister before ultimately losing to outgoing premier Shigeru Ishiba.

Once a drummer in a college heavy metal band, Takaichi considers former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher her political role model.

While her election "would be a step forward for women's participation in politics," according to Sadafumi Kawato, professor emeritus at the University of Tokyo, she has shown little interest in challenging patriarchal structures.

Takaichi's gender policies align with the conservative wing of the LDP. She opposes reforming a 19th-century law requiring married couples to share the same surname, which typically results in women adopting their husband's name.

Kawato told AFP this issue "probably won't be resolved during her term."

Nevertheless, in her campaign speech, she committed to improving gender balance in her cabinet to "Nordic" standards.

Japan currently ranks 118th out of 148 countries in the World Economic Forum's 2025 Gender Gap Report, primarily due to women's underrepresentation in government, while Iceland, Finland, and Norway hold the top three positions.

Takaichi enjoys strong support from the LDP's conservative faction and followers of assassinated former prime minister Shinzo Abe.

She advocates for aggressive monetary easing and substantial fiscal spending, echoing her mentor's "Abenomics" policies, which could potentially disrupt markets if implemented again.

She has expressed significant concerns about crime and foreign economic influence in Japan, calling for stricter regulations—a move analysts interpret as an attempt to recapture voters who switched from the LDP to a new nationalist party with anti-immigration rhetoric.

Regarding trade, she stated in a panel discussion this month that she would not hesitate to pursue renegotiations with the US if any deal were implemented in a manner considered detrimental or unfair to Japan.