
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi holds her first press conference after taking office, October 21, at the Prime Minister’s Office (©Sankei by Naoki Aikawa).
Japan's first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, delivered her inaugural press conference on October 21 after being formally appointed as the country's 104th leader. Throughout the nearly hour-long session, Takaichi projected urgency, gratitude, and determination, outlining the guiding philosophy of her new administration: "change without fear, work with courage, and never give up."
A Pledge for Stability and Cooperation
Takaichi began by apologizing to the public for the time it took to form the new cabinet, pledging that her government would now move swiftly to produce tangible results. She emphasized that political stability was a prerequisite for any meaningful progress, noting that "without stability, neither strong economic policy nor robust diplomacy can be achieved."
Expressing appreciation to both the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and her new coalition partner, Nippon Ishin no Kai (Ishin), Takaichi said the two parties reached an agreement based on shared priorities, such as price stability, social security reform, and constitutional revision. Although Ishin opted to support the administration from outside the cabinet, Takaichi stressed that the partnership would remain solid.
To demonstrate political reform, she also pledged to move forward with a reduction in the number of Diet members by 10% and to push legislation preventing ministers, including the prime minister, from receiving salaries exceeding their parliamentary pay.

Immediate Focus on Economic Relief
At the core of Takaichi's policy agenda lies an aggressive response to Japan's ongoing inflation. "The top priority of the Takaichi Cabinet is to address rising prices," she declared, promising both immediate relief and longer-term reforms.
Her plan includes abolishing the temporary gasoline tax within the current Diet session and scrapping the diesel tax surcharge by the start of the next fiscal year. These cuts, she said, will be offset by subsidies to local governments and businesses to maintain stable revenues.
Takaichi also committed to expanding targeted subsidies for hospitals, welfare facilities, and small businesses struggling with soaring costs. She pledged to increase financial support for local governments to help those most affected by inflation, while promising additional assistance for households facing high utility bills this winter.
Looking ahead, the Prime Minister announced plans to make high school and school lunches free of charge starting in April 2026. That aligns with the LDP's coalition agreement with Ishin. She also vowed to revise Japan's "¥1.03 million JPY ($6,700 USD) income cap," which discourages part-time workers, mainly women, from working more hours due to tax penalties. The framework for this reform, she said, will be finalized by the end of the year.
On broader economic policy, Takaichi affirmed that the government would maintain close communication with the Bank of Japan. She emphasized that while the central bank's independence would be respected, the government expects it to pursue "appropriate monetary policy" to achieve the 2% inflation target in a sustainable, wage-driven manner. The Prime Minister ruled out any immediate revision of the government-BOJ accord.
Security, Diplomacy, and Global Partnerships
Takaichi positioned herself as a proactive foreign-policy leader, noting upcoming summits in Malaysia and South Korea. "It's an ideal opportunity to meet many world leaders and promote the vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific," she said. Takaichi's political mentor, the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, played a key role in shaping the Free and Open Indo-Pacific vision.
She also reaffirmed the Japan–United States alliance as the cornerstone of Japan's diplomacy and security, expressing her intention to meet soon with US President Donald Trump to "raise the relationship to new heights." Beyond bilateral issues, she emphasized cooperation on regional and global challenges, from the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East and Ukraine.
Domestically, Takaichi confirmed plans to accelerate the revision of Japan's 2022 National Security Strategy and related defense documents, arguing that warfare had evolved with drones, cyberattacks, and disinformation. She said Japan must strengthen its resilience across defense, energy, food, and digital infrastructure, calling this approach "strategic crisis-management investment."
On the question of arms export rules, she said changes would proceed carefully but in line with international norms, engaging the ruling and opposition parties in discussions.
Disaster Preparedness and Reconstruction
Takaichi also highlighted disaster management as a top priority, pledging to establish a new National Disaster Management Agency by fiscal 2026. The agency, she said, will act as a command center overseeing pre-disaster prevention, response, and recovery. It will draw on lessons from the Reconstruction Agency, particularly in rebuilding areas affected by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.
When asked about ongoing recovery efforts in the Noto Peninsula, hit by earthquakes and severe flooding in 2024, she expressed condolences to the victims and reaffirmed the government's commitment to "speedy reconstruction." She said she intends to visit the disaster area once parliamentary and diplomatic schedules allow.
Seeking Broad Cooperation
Acknowledging that even with Ishin, the ruling bloc lacks a majority in both Diet chambers, Takaichi said she would remain open to working with other parties, including those outside the coalition, on policies consistent with the LDP's principles. "What matters most is delivering results for the people," she said, promising to engage constructively with any party offering sound policy proposals.

A Vision for Growth and Longevity
Looking beyond immediate challenges, Takaichi outlined a long-term vision centered on technological and industrial revitalization. She called for public–private collaboration in key fields such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum technology, and shipbuilding, adding that Japan must leverage its advanced technologies to solve global problems like climate change and energy security.
While acknowledging the difficulty of implementing all her goals within the remaining two years of her LDP presidential term, Takaichi said she would let the public judge her performance: "If our policies deliver progress, the people will decide whether I continue."
Takaichi closed the press conference with a direct appeal: "Japan faces serious crises from within and without. There's no time to stand still. I will work fearlessly and decisively from day one."
RELATED:
- Sanae Takaichi Elected Japan's First Female Prime Minister
- Inside the LDP-Ishin no Kai Coalition Agreement
Author: Daniel Manning