Conservative Takaichi named Japan’s first woman PM

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The industrial conservatives named only two other women to their cabinet, with Sani Takeichi named Japan’s first female prime minister on Tuesday.

Japan’s fifth prime minister in as many years also leads a minority government and has a bulging in the tray, not least the visit of US President Donald Trump scheduled for next week.

The former heavy metal drummer and Margaret Thatcher fan became leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on 4 October, but his coalition collapsed days later.

This led Takeuchi to form a coalition with the reformist, right-leaning Japan Innovation Party (JIP), which was signed on Monday.

She was approved as prime minister by parliament on Tuesday and was due to officially take over later that day after meeting the emperor.

European Union chief Ursula van der Leyen congratulated Takachi on “making history” as Japan’s first female prime minister.

Takachi promised a cabinet with “Nordic” levels of women, with no fewer than two predecessors, Shigeru Isiba. Japan’s record is five.

But he named only two other women to his 19-strong cabinet, with Satsuki Kitayama in charge of finance and Japanese-American Kimi Onoda holding the economic security portfolio.

Japan ranked 118 out of 148 in the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Global Gender Gap Report. 15% of MPs in the lower house are women.

Takachi has said that she hopes to raise awareness about women’s health struggles and has spoken hopefully about her experience with menopause.

But he is seen as socially conservative, opposing revising a 19th-century law requiring married couples to share the same surname, and wanting the royal family to stick to male-only succession.

“If we look at more policies from a woman’s perspective: support for childcare, and support for women returning to work after children,” 18-year-old student Nina Terao told AFP in Nara.

Yu Ichiyama, a professor of political science at the University of Tokyo, described Takeichi’s appointment as “commitment-making”.

“Just because she became the first woman prime minister doesn’t mean we will move in the direction of DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion),” he told AFP.

Being in the minority in both houses of parliament, the new coalition will need the help of other parties to push through legislation.

Among Takeuchi’s many challenges are Japan’s declining population and flatlining economy.

“Prices have gone up, and it’s difficult,” said Nara pensioner Satu Tomanga.

“Honestly, I mostly shop at ¥100 ($0.66) stores,” the 77-year-old told AFP.

America, Regional Relations

The new prime minister handed the role of foreign minister to Toshimitsu Motegi, who was credited with handling trade relations with the first Trump administration.

The US president wants Tokyo to curb Russian energy imports and increase defense spending.

Details of Japan’s $550 billion investment in the U.S., as part of its latest trade deal with Washington, remain unclear.

Takeichi has previously said that “Japan is completely looked down upon by China”, and that Tokyo must “address the security threat” posed by Beijing.

But he has since scaled back his rhetoric, and last week stayed away from the Yasukuni shrine that honors Japan’s war dead, a flashpoint in Tokyo’s regional ties.

China’s foreign ministry on Tuesday urged Tokyo to “honor its political commitments on major issues including history and Taiwan”.

China and Japan are key trading partners, but in recent years friction over regional rivalries and military spending has soured the relationship.

Japan hosts about 54,000 US military personnel and is part of the Quad Group, Washington’s closest ally, along with Australia and India, which is seen as a counterweight to Beijing.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated Takachi, saying “our deep ties are vital to peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and beyond”.

Takeuchi will also face pressure to revive the LDP’s fortunes after poor election results cost Asiba his job.

Smaller parties gaining support include the populist Sensito, which calls immigration a “silent attack.”