The Vision Prime Minister Takaichi Wrote a Quarter-Century Ago

Japan's new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, was a fifth-term student at the Matsushita Institute of Government and Management in Chigasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture. The private academy was founded by Konosuke Matsushita, the visionary behind Matsushita Electric (now Panasonic), who invested his personal fortune to cultivate future leaders. From the very beginning, Takaichi was determined to enter politics.

About a quarter-century ago, she and fifteen other Diet members from the same institute each outlined their visions for Japan's future in a book titled Japan's Prosperity in the 21st Century (21 Seiki Nihon no Haneifu, 1999, PHP Institute). In her contribution, Takaichi had already imagined, in concrete terms, the kind of nation she hoped to lead one day. Many of the policies she wrote with conviction in those pages later became the philosophical backbone of her current political agenda.

The book was published in late 1999, on the eve of the 21st century. At the time, Takaichi was only a second-term lawmaker, still in the early stages of her political career. She and fifteen others, including Lower House Vice Speaker Koichiro Gemba and Nippon Ishin no Kai advisor Seiji Maehara, both eighth-term graduates of the same institute, had formed a research group that met weekly to debate Japan's direction.

Takaichi's own contribution spanned 22 pages and was titled "Formation of the Takaichi Cabinet." Its contents were nothing short of striking.

The Self-Portrait of a Future Prime Minister

The essay opens with bold imagination:

"In October 2010, following the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election, Sanae Takaichi, president of the LDP, was elected Prime Minister in the plenary sessions of both houses of the Diet."

From the very first line, she casts herself as Japan's leader. Her envisioned cabinet lineup also breaks from convention. She proposed, for example, appointing a first-term lawmaker as Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, a move that would overturn long-standing hierarchies.

In her scenario, "Prime Minister Takaichi" would also establish a Government Public Relations Committee under the Chief Cabinet Secretary and launch new public outreach efforts. This included a Sunday morning TV program titled "Good Morning, Prime Minister," to clearly explain government initiatives to the public.

Five Pillars of the Takaichi Vision

When outlining the direction of her administration, Takaichi identified five guiding pillars.

Her first priority was to establish a government that would steadfastly protect Japan's sovereignty and honor, along with the lives and property of its citizens. She also sought to make the pursuit of the national interest a clear and central objective.

Another key aim was to move away from excessive equality of outcome and create a society grounded in genuine equality of opportunity. In addition, she emphasized the need to defend freedom and individual rights while reminding citizens of their responsibilities and duties, a balance she believed essential to restoring social order.

Constitutional Revision

Building on these principles, Takaichi turned her attention to the Constitution. She argued that while "the prohibition of wars of aggression is only natural," Japan should also "explicitly include the right of self-defense to engage in war," provided that civilian control is clearly defined.

*LDP elects its first female president, Sanae Takaichi, at party headquarters. October 4 (©Sankei by Ataru Haruna)*

She went on to declare that a full-scale constitutional revision would begin under her administration:

"There are countless points of debate, such as the status of the Imperial family's traditional ceremonies (Article 7). As time moves on, technical interpretations of the current constitution can no longer address the issues we face. We must, without fail, write 'Our Era's Constitution.'"

She continued:

"To protect our national interests and honor, I wish to first emphasize a break from apology diplomacy and a reconsideration of wasteful economic aid. Under a Takaichi administration, while promoting research into historical facts, Japan will avoid further state-level apologies for matters already settled and compensated through postwar treaties.

Textbooks should also be revised so that children can take pride in being Japanese and acquire the knowledge and ability needed to function as members of the international community."

Official Visits to Yasukuni Shrine

Takaichi also proposed that Japan's leaders express gratitude directly to the nation's fallen:

"The Prime Minister and Cabinet members shall express gratitude to the war dead who gave their lives for the nation and make official visits to Yasukuni Shrine. Likewise, during overseas trips, they shall visit the war cemeteries of the respective countries."

Convinced that "excessive equality of outcome has weakened Japan's vitality," Takaichi expressed her intention to place equality of opportunity over equality of results at the heart of all policymaking. She elaborated on this vision through proposed reforms to taxation, gender policy, and other key areas.

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Journey

Reflecting on her approach to politics, Takaichi wrote:

"It has become my habit to always think, 'If I were prime minister, how would I respond to this issue?' when addressing political challenges. I began my essay with the image of myself as prime minister as training to grow into a politician truly capable of serving the nation and its people, not out of arrogance."

She ended her essay with a passionate declaration:

"Japan is a wonderful country passed down to us by our predecessors. I want to restore its vitality once again and pass on to the next generation a society filled with hope and security.

And to our elders who contributed so much to society, I want them to fully enjoy a rich old age as the fruit of their efforts.

That is my dream as a politician. It's a once-in-a-lifetime journey, and I am prepared to stake everything on it."

Prioritizing Equality of Opportunity

More than two decades later, Takaichi has finally realized that dream with the formation of her Cabinet.

At her press conference on October 21, she was asked why her new administration included only two female ministers, Satsuki Katayama as Minister of Finance and Kimi Onoda as Minister for Economic Security. Her answer was firm:

"I have always valued equality of opportunity — equality of chance — above all else."

The remark echoed almost word-for-word what she had written decades earlier:

"Rather than equality of outcome, what matters is equality of opportunity."

(Read the article in Japanese.)

Author: Tomohiro Murakami, The Sankei Shimbun