October 22, 2025

TOKYO: Drama and history made! Japan today crowned Sanae Takaichi as its first female prime minister, turning the spotlight on a fiery leader who idolizes Britain's 'Iron Lady,' Margaret Thatcher. After a nail-biting leadership battle within the Liberal Democratic Party, this 64-year-old conservative ace rose to the top despite the shock of a coalition partner quitting. With her eyes set on bold spending moves that might rattle investor nerves in Japan’s deeply indebted economy, Takaichi also brings a spicy nationalist flavor that could stir tensions with powerful neighbour China. Experts are watching her closely as she steps into big shoes. Takaichi, a heavy metal-loving drummer, is no stranger to making a racket. She’s a regular at the controversial Yasukuni shrine, a symbol of Japan's wartime past that keeps neighbours wary. Plus, she’s not shy about shaking Japan’s pacifist postwar constitution and even hinted at a "quasi-security alliance" with Taiwan, a move sure to raise eyebrows in Beijing. Unlike Thatcher who was a budget hawk, Takaichi backs big government spending and tax cuts, pushing hard to keep the Bank of Japan under firmer control. A longtime supporter of former PM Shinzo Abe’s "Abenomics," she promises to fuel the economy with plenty of cash – a recipe that has both fans and critics. At her first press meet, Takaichi declared, "Japan now faces grave internal and external challenges, and we have no time to stand still." She even faces the task of hosting U.S. President Donald Trump next week, adding to the pressure. Despite her conservative edge—opposing same-sex marriage and clinging to traditional family values—she aims to boost female ministers' numbers in her cabinet. But polls show her tough views appeal more to men than to women. Behind the steely image, there's a personal touch — her former hairdresser says her signature "Sanae Cut" hairstyle is a clever way to show she listens carefully, with long sides tucked behind her ears. From a humble start with parents working regular jobs, to studying business at Kobe University and even working in the U.S. Congress, Takaichi’s rise is a fascinating story of grit and power play. As Japan’s new captain, she now faces the huge task of steering the nation through tricky domestic politics and unpredictable global waters.

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Tags: Sanae takaichi, Japan prime minister, Abenomics, Japan-china relations, Japanese politics, Liberal democratic party,