Prime Minister and LDP President Sanae Takaichi holds a post-election press conference at LDP headquarters on February 9. (Inside image ©Sankei by Ataru Haruna)
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, won a historic landslide in the recent snap general election. For the first time in postwar Japan, a woman has risen to become the nation's leader with an unprecedented level of power through free and democratic elections.
The LDP secured more than a two-thirds majority in the Lower House by itself. As a result, even if the opposition-controlled Upper House were to block legislation, the ruling party has the authority to override it.
Half a year ago, before Sanae Takaichi had even become prime minister, who could have imagined such an outcome? I must admit that I never anticipated a victory of this historic scale.
The election was a tough, short campaign, conducted amid a severe cold wave and heavy snowfall. One by one, Takaichi's powerful political rivals were defeated, while young and largely unknown LDP candidates secured seats. It was truly an election swept by what can only be described as a "Takaichi whirlwind."
Choosing Strong Leadership
As the global order shifts from rule-based norms toward a law-of-the-jungle reality, the Japanese people chose a strong leader — someone capable of standing toe-to-toe with such a world to drive national transformation.
By contrast, the opposition camp, the Centrist Reform Alliance, effectively self-destructed through a flawed strategy of superficial unity riddled with internal contradictions. For me, it felt as though destiny itself had singled out Sanae Takaichi for this moment.
The era of an unchanging Japan is over. Many veteran politicians are leaving the political stage or rapidly losing their influence. Even the old-guard media, which had long been relentlessly critical of Takaichi, had virtually no impact on the election's outcome.
What Comes Next?
JAPAN Forward has been reporting on the transformations and major shifts Japan is now poised to undertake following this historic election result. Over the past week, one of its most widely read articles focused on Takaichi's sweeping victory:
The article features an interview with a young expert from a consulting firm specializing in Asian business.
The expert notes that Takaichi has a strong chance of implementing much of her policy agenda before the July 2028 upper house election. At the same time, he argues that the Liberal Democratic Party is likely to move away from the liberal approach of the Fumio Kishida and Shigeru Ishiba administrations and return to a more conservative course.
A Prime Minister's Resolve
How will the Prime Minister use the power entrusted to her by the people? At her February 9 press conference, held the day after the vote count, the words that resonated most were her resolve to take on challenges for Japan's future.
Emphasizing her belief in the latent strength of the Japanese people, the Prime Minister pledged to guide the nation toward a "responsible, proactive fiscal policy," with the government leading efforts to expand public–private domestic investment and drive economic growth.
Takaichi also vowed to pursue sweeping reforms in security and defense, including the creation of a national intelligence agency, and to confront the contentious issue of constitutional revision.
She concluded by saying, "A nation that does not take on challenges has no future. The future is not something that is given to us — it is something each and every one of us creates by continuing to challenge ourselves."
Hopes for Japan's Future
I asked our multinational editorial team what they hope for and expect from Japan going forward. Their responses ranged from a desire for Japanese people to have greater confidence in their country to expectations that generational change will accelerate across many fields.
Other members emphasized the importance of protecting Japan's traditional culture and identity while giving younger generations opportunities to thrive. Some expressed hope that Japan will move forward with constitutional revision to become a normal country truly capable of protecting itself, while others said they want Japan to be a nation that fosters integration rather than division.
Japan is entering a period of profound transformation. By becoming a new kind of media, JAPAN Forward aims to support younger generations taking on challenges for the country and the world's future.
Watch for the next issue on March 9.
JAPAN Forward is a media outlet driven by an unparalleled passion to advance the future of Japan and its role in the world. For inquiries, please call 0570-033-433 (Sankei iD) or email us at info@japan-forward.com.
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Author: Yasuo Naito, Editor in Chief
