Former Minister of State for Economic Security Sanae Takaichi won the final round of the LDP presidential election and was elected as the new president, of the party on October 4. (©Sankei by Ataru Haruna)
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On Saturday, October 4, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) elected its new president. Former Minister of Economic Security Sanae Takaichi defeated Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Shinjiro Koizumi in a runoff vote and became the new leader of Japan's ruling party.
An extraordinary Diet session is scheduled to be convened in mid-October. At that time, Diet members in the Lower House will vote for a national leader to replace Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, the outgoing president of the LDP.
Currently, there are no signs of the opposition parties coalescing behind a single alternative candidate. Therefore, Takaichi is expected to be elected Japan's next prime minister. After the investiture ceremony at the Imperial Palace, she would become the first female prime minister in Japan's history of constitutional rule.
High Expectations
Although the LDP is the largest party in Japan, a Takaichi Cabinet could nevertheless have a rocky start. That is because the LDP and its coalition partner Komeito do not have a majority in either house of the Diet.
In her acceptance speech, Takaichi said: "Rather than being overjoyed, I am thinking about how tough it will be in the days to come. There are a lot of policies that need to be implemented quickly." She added, "Our ranks [of LDP Diet members] are thin, so I want all our members to contribute like workhorses."
We hope that Takaichi and other LDP lawmakers will work wholeheartedly for the sake of Japan and the Japanese people.
Takaichi won a significant plurality of support in the first round of voting by ordinary party members. That left Koizumi behind in second place. However, in the first round, she only placed third in votes from LDP Diet members. Nonetheless, in the runoff election, she defeated Koizumi by winning the votes of both Diet members and LDP prefectural federations.
The final outcome undoubtedly reflected Diet members' respect for the overwhelming support shown to Takaichi by regular party members, who clearly appreciated Takaichi's policies and solid conservative beliefs. Next, while the right people need to be appointed to key positions, it is also essential to establish a party-wide system that includes the other presidential candidates.
Priorities Facing Takaichi
The top priority is to restore stability to Japanese politics. Without that, it will be difficult to strongly promote necessary measures for diplomacy and security, or to cope with the challenges of rising prices, sluggish economic growth, and population decline.
Beyond cooperation with its junior coalition partner, Komeito, the LDP must urgently build relationships with like-minded opposition parties. Takaichi has been positive about expanding the framework for the governing coalition. She should expeditiously meet with the leaders of the opposition parties and identify those with whom the LDP can cooperate.
The LDP suffered consecutive crushing defeats in the October 2024 Lower House election, June 2025 Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election, and the July Upper House election. It now finds itself in the most critical situation it has faced since its founding in 1955.
Conservative voters and young people witnessed the poor governance of Prime Minister Ishiba and the party leadership under him. They rapidly became alienated from the LDP, which led to the success of the Democratic Party for the People and the Sanseito in July. For the LDP to regain its strength, it needed to rebuild the party under new leadership.
Return to the Party's Conservative Roots
Takaichi enjoys the support of conservative voters. Her selection as party president should prevent further defections among party members and supporters. That puts the party on the starting line of the road to recovery. However, it will by no means be an easy road.
Japan faces a host of crises, both at home and abroad. LDP lawmakers should realize that unless they unite to overcome these crises, there remains a possibility that they will fall from power.
To prevent this, the party as a whole must strongly promote a series of policies.
National Security
National security provides the foundation for Japan's independence and prosperity. The anti-Japan, nuclear-armed, authoritarian nations of China, Russia, and North Korea are deepening their cooperation and seeking to change the status quo by force. Meanwhile, concerns about a Taiwan contingency are increasing.
Japan must build on the enactment of security-related legislation under the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the drastic strengthening of defense capabilities under former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Those steps are necessary to enhance the nation's deterrent and response capabilities and to preserve peace.
The government plans to ensure that defense spending and related expenses total 2% of gross domestic product in FY2027. Takaichi has expressed her belief that such a level of defense spending is inadequate to protect Japan. She is right on that score. Despite the current daunting fiscal situation, steady progress is needed in developing the nation's defense capabilities.
Relations with the United States
The governments of Japan and the United States are busy preparing for a visit by President Donald Trump in the latter part of October. Hopefully, Takaichi can forge a relationship of trust with Trump and align their views concerning China.
She will also need to protect Japan's national interests regarding bilateral economic ties, including on the question of tariffs. Overall, both sides must strive to preserve our close relationship as allies.
While doing so, she must ensure that everything is done to rescue all remaining Japanese abducted by North Korea. This is an extremely important issue for Japan.
Economic Security
Takaichi told the news conference held after her election, "I want to focus on measures to combat rising prices." To this end, the ruling and opposition parties have agreed that the provisional gasoline tax rate should be abolished.
Additionally, the government needs to adopt a future-oriented growth strategy. In light of the rapid decrease in the Japanese population, reform of social security systems, including for medical treatment and nursing care, is also urgent.
Ensuring the Stability of the Nation
Adopting a stable imperial succession policy is crucial for preserving the nation's foundation. As LDP president, Takaichi will need to take the lead in implementing the advice in the government report. That advice includes protecting male-line succession, the most important principle of the imperial line.
The new leader must also move forward with policies to address issues related to foreigners in Japan, which became a focus of public concern during the July Upper House election. Finally, she needs to break the logjam on constitutional reform, which had stalled under the Ishiba administration.
RELATED:
- Sanae Takaichi Makes History as LDP's First Woman Leader
- LDP Support Recovery Likely Under Takaichi, Survey Finds
Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun
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