Sanae Takaichi has swiftly cemented her grip on power just four months into her tenure as Japan’s first woman prime minister, after her ruling coalition cruised to a decisive victory in snap lower house elections, likely securing a two-thirds majority.
The emphatic mandate gives Takaichi broad room to advance a legislative agenda centred on economic security and a tough approach towards China. A staunch conservative who openly admires former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, she has largely avoided framing her leadership around gender, choosing instead to emphasise discipline, policy resolve and relentless work ethic.
Known as a political workaholic with a reputation for hands-on leadership, Takaichi has also demonstrated a keen sense of diplomacy. Her leadership style has drawn praise from US President Donald Trump, whom she has sought to engage through personal overtures, including gifts such as a golf bag and American beef. Analysts note that her early efforts have helped stabilise relations with Washington at a critical moment for regional security.
Takaichi took over a weakened Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), battered by voter dissatisfaction over rising inflation and a slush fund scandal. Since assuming office, she has adopted firm positions on immigration and national security, while showing little hesitation in confronting Beijing, even at the cost of diplomatic fallout.
In November, she sparked a diplomatic dispute after suggesting Japan could intervene militarily if China were to attack Taiwan. The comment prompted China to impose a wide-ranging ban on exports to Japan of so-called “dual-use” goods that could have military applications, underscoring the heightened tensions between the two countries.
A former economic security minister, Takaichi has long been outspoken about China’s military expansion and has consistently backed closer ties with Taiwan. During a visit to Taipei, she described deeper security cooperation between Japan and Taiwan as “crucial”, signalling continuity in her hawkish regional outlook.
Beyond policy, Takaichi has occasionally revealed a more personal side. A former drummer in a college heavy metal band, she drew attention last month by playing two K-pop songs during a meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, an unexpected moment that earned widespread praise online and softened her public image.
Despite citing Thatcher as her political role model, Takaichi has shown little inclination to champion gender-based reforms. Her conservative views on social issues place her firmly on the right of an already traditionalist LDP. She opposes amending a 19th-century law requiring married couples to adopt the same surname and, despite pledging to improve gender representation, appointed only two women to her 19-member cabinet.
On the economic front, she has embraced aggressive monetary easing and large-scale fiscal spending, echoing the “Abenomics” policies of her mentor, the late Shinzo Abe. Staying true to her promise to “work, work, work, work and work”, Takaichi is reported to sleep just two to four hours a night, a pace that has come to define the opening chapter of her premiership.
