**Sanae Takaichi Set to Become Japan’s First Female Prime Minister**
*By Snehil Singh | October 4, 2025, 3:17 PM*
Sanae Takaichi has been elected as the new leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), positioning her to become the country’s first female prime minister, pending a parliamentary vote.
The 64-year-old right-wing politician secured victory in a runoff election against moderate Shinjiro Koizumi by a narrow margin of 185 votes to 156. This leadership change follows the resignation of outgoing Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who stepped down after serving just one year in office.
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### Political Outlook: Takaichi’s Ultra-Conservative Views
Takaichi is known for her ultra-conservative positions and has been a steadfast supporter of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s conservative vision. She expresses admiration for Margaret Thatcher and advocates for a stronger military, increased fiscal spending, the promotion of nuclear fusion, enhanced cybersecurity measures, and stricter immigration policies.
While she has committed to boosting female representation within the Tokyo cabinet, Takaichi opposes same-sex marriage and reforms allowing male-only imperial succession.
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### Party Dynamics: The Significance of Takaichi’s Win
Takaichi’s ascendancy marks a significant milestone in Japan, a country where women remain underrepresented in politics and business leadership. Currently, women constitute only about 15% of the members in Japan’s lower house.
Her election as LDP leader comes at a challenging time for the party, which has faced setbacks in two recent elections amid a funding scandal and ongoing cost-of-living concerns. Her immediate priorities will include uniting the party and regaining public trust following these issues.
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### Controversial Stances on Gender Equality and Immigration
Despite the historic nature of her win, Takaichi’s viewpoints on gender equality have drawn criticism. She opposes policies such as allowing women to become reigning empresses and enabling married couples to use separate surnames.
On immigration, she has called for a reassessment of policies accommodating diverse cultures and backgrounds during her campaign. Additionally, her hawkish stance on foreign policy may create tensions with the LDP’s coalition partner, the Komeito party.
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Sanae Takaichi’s leadership signals both a breakthrough for female political representation in Japan and a potential shift toward more conservative policies in the country’s governance.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/world/sanae-takaichi-set-to-become-japan-s-first-female-pm/story
