October 21, 2025 | 12:34 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Japanese parliament on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, elected Sanae Takaichi as the nation's first female prime minister.
The conservative, anti-China politician secured 237 votes—more than the simple majority required. The 64-year-old, who was unexpectedly nominated by the majority in the first round of voting, will officially take office after an audience with the Emperor later on Tuesday night, as reported by CNA.
Her victory was secured after the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which she leads, signed a coalition agreement with a right-wing partner. Takaichi and Hirofumi Yoshimura, co-leader of the Innovation Party of Japan (known as Ishin), signed the agreement in front of reporters at 6:00 p.m. local time on Monday night.
Yoshimura had made a last-minute announcement that his party was ready to support Takaichi for Prime Minister, providing the LDP with the necessary backing to retain power.
"I told Takaichi that we should move forward together," he was quoted as saying by Al Jazeera.
The combined agreement between the LDP and Ishin totals 231 seats in the lower house, leaving the new coalition two seats short of a majority. This means external support is still required to pass laws.
The former heavy metal drummer became the leader of the LDP on October 4th. The party has ruled almost uninterrupted for decades but has recently faced declining support. This was compounded six days later when the Komeito Party, citing discomfort with Takaichi's conservative views and the LDP's slush fund scandal, withdrew from their long-standing coalition.
Last weekend, during the three-day autumn festival, Takaichi notably did not visit the controversial Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo. Her decision appeared to be an acknowledgment that a visit to the Shinto shrine could negatively impact foreign affairs.
The shrine, which honors Class A war criminals alongside the nation's war dead, is viewed by neighboring countries, particularly China and South Korea, as a symbol of Japan’s past militarism. Takaichi has historically visited the shrine during the spring and autumn festivals and on the August 15th commemoration of Japan's surrender in WWII, even while holding ministerial positions.
However, on the first day of the autumn festival, she instead made a ritual offering of tamagushi to the shrine. The offering was paid for from her personal funds and labeled "LDP President."
Skepticism Among Japanese Women
Despite Takaichi breaking a gender barrier, many Japanese women are not celebrating her victory.
Sociologist Chizuko Ueno wrote on X, "The prospect of a first female prime minister doesn’t make me happy," arguing that Takaichi's leadership "doesn’t mean Japanese politics becomes kinder to women."
Similarly, Chiyako Sato, a political commentator for the Mainichi newspaper, noted that Takaichi's policies were "extremely hawkish and I doubt she would consider policies to recognize diversity."
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