Japan Gets First Woman PM: Sanae Takaichi, Conservative Hawk, Makes History

This special report focuses on a landmark moment in Japanese politics as the Diet elects ultra-conservative Sanae Takaichi as the nation’s first female Prime Minister. Following her victory in the Liberal Democratic Party’s leadership race, Takaichi stated, ‘I will keep my promise. We can’t rebuild [the LDP] unless we mobilize the full strength of all the generations with everyone participating.’ A protégé of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Takaichi’s premiership follows the resignation of Shigeru Ishiba and is expected to have significant implications for regional security and the India-Japan ‘Special Strategic and Global Partnership’. Her administration faces immediate challenges, including managing diplomatic ties with neighbouring countries and addressing domestic economic concerns.