Sanae Takaichi, 64, will officially become Japan’s first female prime minister after meeting Emperor Naruhito on Tuesday.
The upper and lower houses of parliament appointed the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) after she unexpectedly won a majority in the first round of voting earlier this month.
She is expected to welcome US President Donald Trump from October 27 as her first major challenge.
Japan’s LDP is losing support
Takaichi is Japan’s fifth leader in as many years, as the ruling LDP – which has ruled almost uninterrupted for decades – continues to gain support.
After taking over the reins of the LDP on October 6, he faced his first challenge when the Komeito Party left its coalition citing discomfort over Takachi’s conservative views and the LDP slush fund scandal.
This prompted Takachi to form a coalition with the right-leaning Japan Innovation Party (JIP), which was signed on Monday.
Key to the JIP policies are reducing the consumption tax rate on food to zero, ending corporate and organizational donations to political parties and reducing the total number of MPs.
Women will be important in the newly formed government
Pledging to form a government with a majority of “Nordic” women, Takachi promised on Monday that she would “strengthen Japan’s economy, and reshape Japan as a country that can be responsible for future generations.”
After opening up about her struggles with menopause, the former heavy metal drummer has vowed to raise awareness of women’s health struggles.
The Eastern Assan country has a heavily patriarchal society and was ranked 118th out of 148 in the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Global Gender Gap Report, with about 15% of lower house MPs being women.
Takaichi’s conservative views cause concern for women
Despite Takaichi’s historic appointment and promise to appoint more female ministers, his political beliefs are a matter of concern to some women in Japan.
His opposition to revising a 19th-century law requiring married couples to share the same surname stands in contrast to the widespread support it has received in Japan – except among conservatives.
His desire to maintain only male succession in the royal family and his opposition to gay marriage also caused concern to many voters, who were deprived of a say in who would be appointed as leader.
Takaichi has repeatedly referred to former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as a source of inspiration, although she is a proponent of fiscal generosity and easy monetary policies, in contrast to the ‘Iron Lady’ policies.
Since the LDP is in the minority in both houses of parliament, the new coalition will need the support of other parties to advance the legislation.
Edited by: Elisabeth Schumacher