Historic Milestone: Sanae Takaichi Becomes Japan's First Female Prime Minister Amid Political Challenges

Oct 21, 2025 01:02 pm CST

Sanae Takaichi has made history as Japan's first woman prime minister, forming a minority government after an unexpected coalition with the Japan Innovation Party. A China hawk and social conservative, Takaichi faces significant challenges including an upcoming Trump visit, economic stagnation, and declining LDP support. Despite her conservative views on traditional family structures, she promises a cabinet with "Nordic" levels of women representation in a country ranked 118th in global gender equality.