Japan is set to have its first female prime minister as Sanae Takaichi has been elected leader of its long-governing party.
Takaichi, 64, beat out her competitor Shinjiro Koizumi to become the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) who have been in power almost continuously since 1955.
She is likely to become the country’s first ever female prime minister on October 15 after a special session of the National Diet (the national legislature of Japan).
Despite this historic first, Takaichi is a divisive figure in the Japanese political landscape.
Dubbed Japan’s ‘Iron Lady’, she cites Margaret Thatcher as her inspiration and is a proponent of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s conservative vision for Japan.
She has called for a stronger military, more fiscal spending for growth, promotion of nuclear fusion, cybersecurity and tougher policies on immigration.
‘Thatcher was known as a politician of conviction. I want to cherish my own beliefs and my view of the nation,’ Takaichi said in 2021. ‘I will do my best as a woman of conviction and a fiery metal woman.’
As the ultra-nationalist leader of a male-dominated party, critics are concerned her tenure will hinder the feminist movement. Indeed, she hardly touched on gender issues during the campaign.
But Takaichi is an ‘Iron Lady’ in more ways than one. As a student, she would ride motorbikes and was a drummer in a heavy-metal band. Her favourite British bands are Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden.
‘When I’m feeling down, reading manga or watching TV dramas is good, but playing this song on the drums is the best. It helps me release stress,’ she previously said.
Sanae Takaichi is the newly elected leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in Japan
Takaichi has been vocal about her inspiration Margaret Thatcher who served as the British prime minister between 1979 and 1990
First elected to parliament from her hometown of Nara in 1993, Takaichi has served in key party and government posts, including minister of economic security, internal affairs and gender equality.
Female lawmakers in the conservative Liberal Democratic Party who were given limited ministerial posts have often been shunned as soon as they spoke up about diversity and gender equality so it is no surprise Takaichi has stuck with old-fashioned views favored by male party heavyweights.
Takaichi also admits she is a workaholic who would rather study at home instead of socialising.
After unsuccessfully running for party presidency twice in the past, she revealed she made efforts to be more sociable and build connections.
But on Saturday, she called for an all-out effort to rebuild the party and regain public support, asking all party lawmakers to ‘work like a horse.’ Then she added, ‘I will abandon the word “work-life balance”. I will work, work, work and work.’
This ‘work-life balance’ speech quickly trended on social media, triggering mixed reactions – support for her enthusiasm and concern about her work ethic.
Takaichi has also vowed to drastically increase female ministers in her government.
At present, women comprise only about 15 per cent of Japan’s lower house, the more powerful of the two parliamentary chambers. Only two of Japan’s 47 prefectural governors are women.
But critics say Takaichi might actually set back women’s advancement because as leader she would have to show loyalty to influential male heavyweights. If not, she risks a short-lived leadership.
Takaichi receives a round of applause after beating her closest competitor Shinjiro Koizumi
Takaichi shakes hands with Japanese prime minister Shigeru Ishiba after winning the presidential election at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo on October 4
Takaichi bows as she leaves the party leader’s office. She said: ‘Now that the LDP has its first female president, its scenery will change a little’
The 64-year-old has backed financial support for women’s health and fertility treatment as part of the LDP policy of having women serve in their traditional roles of being good mothers and wives.
But she also recently acknowledged her struggles with menopausal symptoms and stressed the need to educate men about female health to help women at school and work.
Takaichi supports the imperial family’s male-only succession, opposes same-sex marriage and a revision to the 19th-century civil law that would allow separate surnames for married couples so that women don’t get pressured into abandoning theirs.
She is a wartime history revisionist and China hawk. She regularly visits Yasukuni Shrine, which Japan’s neighbors consider a symbol of militarism, though she has declined to say what she would do as prime minister.
Political watchers say her revisionist views of Japan’s wartime history may complicate ties with Beijing and Seoul.
Her hawkish stance is also a worry for the LDP’s longtime partnership with Komeito, a Buddhist-backed moderate party. While she has said the current coalition is crucial for her party, she says she is open to working with far-right groups.
Whatever happens, Takaichi has made it clear that change is on her agenda. Albeit just ‘a little’.
After trying out the party president’s chair on Saturday and posing for a photo as is customary for the newly elected leader, Takaichi said: ‘Now that the LDP has its first female president, its scenery will change a little.’