What is known about Japan’s first female prime minister?

Another woman is set to lead one of the world’s most powerful countries. Japan’s new prime minister is also notable as the first woman in the nation’s history to head the government. On October 21, Japan’s parliament approved Sanae Takaichi as the country’s new prime minister.

Throughout her life, Sanae Takaichi has been fond of percussion instruments. Since her college days as a drummer in a band, the 64-year-old politician has remained a fan of groups such as Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden. According to Japanese media, she used to play so intensely that she always carried four spare pairs of drumsticks in case they broke. Japan’s newly elected prime minister still maintains her passion for music. She has an electronic drum set at home and often plays it to relieve stress, especially related to her marriage.

“I play after he falls asleep,” she joked during a recent interview with a Japanese YouTuber.

That “heavy metal spirit” has also shaped her steady yet unconventional political rise. A staunch conservative and long-time member of parliament, Takaichi was confirmed as Japan’s new prime minister on October 21. As the country’s first female leader, she now faces an extensive list of challenges.

A dream to become “Japan’s Thatcher”

For many years, Takaichi has supported conservative policies rooted in national and traditional values. Her victory — in Japan’s male-dominated political system — marks an unexpected achievement that shows traditional conservatism is still alive and has renewed hope among voters of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

She is an active member of the nationalist lobby group Nippon Kaigi (“Japan Conference”), which promotes a patriotic education system. She also advocates revising Japan’s pacifist constitution, particularly Article 9, which renounces war and forbids the use of armed forces.

Unlike many of her male colleagues, Takaichi does not come from a political family. She was born in Nara Prefecture to a father who worked for an automobile company and a mother who served in the police force.

Before entering politics, she interned under a member of the U.S. Democratic Party and worked as a political commentator on television.

“She used to wear mini-skirts, ride motorcycles, and expressed herself in a dynamic and unconventional way, which made her stand out from her older, formal male colleagues,” said Hajime Kidera, a political science professor at Meiji University, in an interview with CNN.

However, after being elected to parliament in 1993 at the age of 32, Takaichi gave up her beloved Kawasaki Z400GP motorcycle to avoid accidents that could hinder her career. Her first political step began as an independent lawmaker. Around this time, she met her longtime hairdresser Yukitoshi Arai, who has styled her hair for the past three decades. Arai told CNN that Takaichi had dreamed “of becoming like Margaret Thatcher” since those early days.

“When I heard that Takaichi had won the LDP leadership, I was so excited that I got goosebumps,” Arai said warmly.

He added, “After the early challenges in her political career, she joined the LDP in 1996. We decided to express her renewed spirit through a new haircut — shorter and sharper.”

Thus, the famous “Sanae cut” was born: sharp as a blade, tidy, and convenient for a busy politician.

“Conservative love”

Since joining the LDP, Takaichi has been re-elected nine times. She has held several ministerial posts, including in charge of gender equality and demographic issues, and has also chaired the party’s Policy Research Council. Most recently, she served as Minister for Economic Security in Fumio Kishida’s cabinet.

Takaichi married in 2004. In a recent interview, she said she agreed to marry her husband without ever going on a date. He proposed over the phone, saying, “I’ve been watching you for a while.”

“His boldness and impatience might surprise some people, but for me, it was the right choice,” Takaichi said.

“He told me, ‘You’ll never eat bad food again.’ So I just agreed,” she added, admitting that she is not a very good cook.

Challenges ahead

Japan’s economic and demographic problems are among the urgent issues awaiting Takaichi. A declining birth rate is shrinking the workforce, while an aging population is increasing the social burden. Record inflation and a weak yen are putting pressure on living standards and raising the cost of living.

Shortly after she was elected LDP leader, the yen weakened further amid expectations of major fiscal stimulus. Takaichi is promoting her own economic program, dubbed “Sanaenomics” — modeled after her mentor Shinzo Abe’s “Abenomics” — focusing on large government spending and low inflation.

“Such talk could further weaken the yen and raise concerns about Japan’s debt level. For ordinary people already struggling with rising prices, this poses a serious risk,” said Professor Hajime Kidera of Meiji University.

Trade relations with Washington may also become complicated, especially regarding the recently announced 550 billion dollar Japan–U.S. investment deal. Takaichi has suggested that the agreement might be reviewed. Currently, Japan’s investments in the U.S. focus mainly on semiconductors, energy, pharmaceuticals, and shipbuilding, while Japan imports about 8 billion dollars’ worth of American agricultural products each year. In return, the U.S. maintains a 15 percent base tariff on Japanese goods, including cars.

Details about the deal remain limited. According to Asia Group analyst Rintaro Nishimura, Takaichi appears to be taking a cautious approach, watching how events unfold given President Donald Trump’s unpredictable nature. Her first test with Washington could come soon — she is expected to meet Trump just days after taking office.

Nevertheless, parallels between the two conservative leaders are already being drawn. As Abe’s protégé, Takaichi is expected to continue her mentor’s diplomatic style. Like Abe, she has called for a sharp increase in Japan’s defense budget, aligning with Washington’s desire for Tokyo to move closer to the NATO-level defense spending target of 5 percent.

Geopolitically, she also faces serious tests. Takaichi is known for her tough stance on China — she previously claimed that Chinese citizens in Japan “have a duty to assist Chinese intelligence.” She has also argued that Japan’s wartime crimes have been “exaggerated” and regularly visits the Yasukuni Shrine, where war dead, including convicted war criminals, are commemorated. Some of her ministers maintain close ties with Taiwan, which could create friction with Beijing, Japan’s key trading partner.

However, analysts say she may limit her visits to Yasukuni Shrine after taking office.

“In practice, Takaichi follows the logic of pragmatic diplomacy. She will likely have to soften her previously strong anti-China statements,” analyst Nishimura told CNN.

There are already signs of caution. For instance, Takaichi announced that she would not visit the shrine during the autumn festival, a gesture interpreted as a message of peace to coalition partners. Her election could also slow the rise of the far-right populist party “Sanseito,” which gained traction this July with anti-immigration rhetoric. In the LDP leadership race, all five candidates promised stricter rules on foreigners, but Takaichi stood out by vowing tighter control over tourists and migrants who violate regulations.

She was criticized for referencing unverified reports about tourists harming sacred deer in Nara. Later, she clarified that her comments aimed to highlight growing anger among Japanese citizens over “rude behavior” by some foreigners.

Domestic situation

Domestically, Takaichi must restore public trust in the party after years of scandal. In 2022, revelations surfaced about some LDP lawmakers’ ties to the Unification Church, damaging the party’s reputation. The following year, several lawmakers were accused of hiding income and accepting bribes, further fueling public discontent.

Critics describe her stance on women’s rights as inconsistent and contradictory. She opposes allowing married women to keep their maiden names and rejects the idea of female succession in the imperial family. However, during her 2025 campaign, she proposed tax incentives for childrearing and initiatives encouraging the creation of workplace nurseries — possibly signaling a cautious shift toward policies that consider women’s interests.

Takaichi’s rise on the political stage has injected new energy into Japan’s political landscape. The question now is whether her election and the LDP’s confidence in her leadership will mark the party’s revival — or accelerate its decline.