Sanae Takaichi has made history as Japan’s first female prime minister after winning a landmark leadership vote.
The 64-year-old conservative politician, often called Japan’s “Iron Lady,” has long admired former British leader Margaret Thatcher. This victory marks her third bid for the top job and comes as she becomes the fourth prime minister in just five years from the scandal-plagued Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
A staunch member of the LDP’s hardline faction and a protégé of the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Takaichi has been praised internationally — with former U.S. President Donald Trump describing her as “a highly respected person of great wisdom.”
As she takes office, Takaichi faces major challenges: reviving Japan’s struggling economy, managing increasingly strained ties with Washington, and restoring unity within her divided ruling party.
