What It Could Mean If Takaichi Becomes Prime Minister

このページを日本語で読む

For the first time in its history, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has elected a woman as its leader. The party held a leadership election on October 4 following Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's announcement that he would step down. In a runoff vote, Sanae Takaichi defeated Shinjiro Koizumi to claim victory. It was a moment that felt almost miraculous.

Challenges Ahead

But rebuilding a weakened party, now reduced to a minority government, and reviving Japan will be no easy task. At the moment of her victory, Takaichi did not smile. She seemed fully aware of the heavy responsibility she was taking on.

In her acceptance speech, Takaichi pledged to "turn the anxieties of many people into hope." She also vowed that every LDP lawmaker would "become a workhorse" for the good of the country.

Japan is changing leaders at a time of global upheaval. For the first time, a woman could take the helm. The world is watching closely. What will change? Who exactly is Sanae Takaichi? This interest was reflected in how articles about Takaichi topped our readership rankings last week.

The following article, written by JAPAN Forward reporter Daniel Manning, was the most-read piece of the week. Of course, it focused on Takaichi.

Sanae Takaichi: What the Foreign Media Gets Wrong About Her

As the headline suggests, the article pointed out that liberal Western media have branded Takaichi as a "hardline right-winger" or a "nationalist extremist." They have portrayed her as an ideologue — someone rigidly devoted to conservative principles and detached from political reality.

Manning argued otherwise. "A closer examination of her record and policy proposals shows a more complex, and likely pragmatic, leader," he wrote.

*LDP President Sanae Takaichi (center) at the party headquarters in Nagatacho, Tokyo, on October 5. (©Sankei)*

Promises to the People

On immigration and foreign labor, often contentious issues in the West, the article noted that Takaichi's views are not extreme. It explained that tighter oversight of illegal foreign workers or restrictions on land purchases by foreign nationals are mainstream within the LDP and beyond.

Her push for an anti-espionage law has also gained understanding even among opposition parties. Manning described the new LDP president as someone who blends "conviction with realism and pragmatism."

On the economic front, Takaichi has proposed what she calls "Sanaenomics." This strategy combines proactive macroeconomic policies with structural reform. Since the leadership election, stock prices have risen, reflecting growing market optimism about her growth-oriented fiscal approach.

Yasukuni Shrine

Even so, Western media, as well as China and South Korea, continue to criticize Takaichi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine. Yasukuni is a place meant to honor those who gave their lives for the nation and to pray for peace. Yet in much of the West, it is still misrepresented as a "war shrine," a symbol of Japanese militarism. This distortion makes genuine reconciliation extremely difficult.

The year 2025 marks 80 years since the end of World War II. In September, Beijing held a military parade to commemorate what it calls the "Victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War."

At the event, China unveiled a wide array of advanced unmanned weapons. This was an unmistakable show of military power aimed at surrounding countries, including Japan and the West.

Standing together at the parade were Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Their presence highlighted the growing closeness among these three nuclear-armed states.

A Moment for Peace

If Takaichi becomes prime minister and makes her diplomatic debut later in October, she will face these militarized regimes head-on. Much attention will focus on the message that United States President Donald Trump, Japan's key ally, will send during his visit at the end of the month.

What would happen if Trump were to visit Yasukuni Shrine, a place of prayers for peace, together with Takaichi? She would be the successor to his assassinated friend, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Abe's widow, Akie, could also join them.

Perhaps the time has come for former enemies to jointly mourn their war dead. Perhaps it is a chance for Japan and the United States to pray together for peace in a world once again shadowed by conflict. JAPAN Forward hopes to continue giving voice to such unspoken sentiments from Japan.

Watch for the next issue on November 17.

JAPAN Forward is a small 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.