Hardline conservative Sanae Takaichi elected Japan's first female leader

[Polybius]

Source: CNN

Staunch conservative Sanae Takaichi was elected Japan’s first female prime minister by parliament on Tuesday, in a landmark moment for the historically patriarchal country where both politics and workplaces are dominated by older men.

Takaichi steps into the role as Japan faces mounting economic woes and a fractured politics, and just days before US President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit.

The 64-year old Takaichi, who is a heavy metal drummer and motorcycle enthusiast, grew up in Nara near Osaka. Her arrival at the pinnacle of Japanese politics tops a remarkable rise, from TV presenter to flag bearer of traditional and nationalist ideals.

A protege of assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Takaichi has laid claim to his conservative legacy. She becomes the fourth prime minister to hold office since he stepped down in 2020, reflecting the political deadlock in the world’s fourth largest economy.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/20/asia/japan-female-prime-minister-sanae-takaichi-intl-hnk

[speak easy]

1. Takaichi's political hero is Margaret Thatcher.

[SomewhereInTheMiddle]

2. Woo-hoo?

This is progress?

[rpannier]

3. I give her less than one year

Their main coalition Komieto has already left the coalition.
They are a minority government that is unpopular... and highly corrupt

[Polybius]

7. That's what many here said about Giorgia Meloni when she first became PM of Italy

I warned them all that they were wrong, and I never got my apology.

[GJGCA]

4. Trivia: a slight connection with Pat Schroeder

Says Wikipedia:
With sponsorship from the Matsushita Institute, she moved to the United States in 1987 to work for Democratic congresswoman Pat Schroeder as a congressional fellow.

Whoda thunk it?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanae_Takaichi

[JI7]

5. What makes her a hardline conservative ?

Is she different from other recent leaders ?

[Farmer-Rick]

6. She's anti-immigration

She denies Japan was wrong and cruel in WWII. It's like a holocaust denier. She's anti-gay and anti-trans. She's wants to rewrite the Japanese constitution to make it more militaristic and wants a much more powerful military.

These are just a few of her Republican like stances. There's more like her lack of support for women's rights, despite her being a woman. Typical conservative attitude "good for me but NOT for thee.".

[Blasphemer]

8. Margaret Thatcher is her idol. 'nuff said. nt