Sanae Takaichi

Sanae Takaichi Faces Criticism Over Trump Diplomacy

November 4, 2025 10:01 am

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi received both commendation and criticism in parliament on Tuesday following her high-profile diplomatic debut, which included hosting U.S. President Donald Trump during her first week in office.

The 63-year-old leader, Japan’s first female prime minister, has drawn strong domestic approval for her energetic start, but opposition lawmakers accused her of “flattery diplomacy” after reports she planned to nominate Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, a move confirmed by the White House.

During a parliamentary session, Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, congratulated Takaichi on her “big smiles” and “energetic diplomacy,” …

Sanae Takaichi Becomes Japan’s First Female Prime Minister

October 21, 2025 6:12 am

Sanae Takaichi has made history as Japan’s first female prime minister, taking office on Tuesday after a tense parliamentary vote that also marks a clear return to conservative politics. Her rise, backed by the Liberal Democratic Party and its new right-wing allies, signals the start of a government eager to revive Abe-era policies on defence and the economy.

The hardline conservative, known for her admiration of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Britain’s Margaret Thatcher, secured 237 votes in parliament’s 465-seat lower house before winning a similar vote in the upper house. Her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) clinched power after …

Sanae Takaichi Set To Become Japan’s First Female PM

October 20, 2025 1:34 pm

Japan is set to appoint its first female prime minister, with conservative leader Sanae Takaichi expected to secure parliament’s vote on Tuesday following a coalition agreement with the Japan Innovation Party (Ishin).

The alliance gives Takaichi’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Ishin a combined 231 seats in Japan’s lower house—just two short of a simple majority but enough to ensure victory in the prime ministerial ballot. “I look forward to working together to strengthen Japan’s economy and transform the country,” Takaichi said during the coalition signing ceremony with Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura and Ishin’s parliamentary head Fumitake Fujita.

Under …

Japan Poised For First Female Leader Amid Party Strife

October 4, 2025 6:20 am

Sanae Takaichi has been elected leader of Japan’s ruling conservative party, placing the 64-year-old on track to become the nation’s first female prime minister. Known for her strong right-wing views, Takaichi is a former government minister, TV host, and heavy metal drummer—a mix that has made her one of Japan’s most recognizable and polarizing political figures.

She now faces the dual challenge of reviving a struggling economy and addressing the pressures of households grappling with inflation and stagnant wages, while navigating complex international relationships, including pending trade arrangements with the United States.

Takaichi inherits a party fractured by scandal and …