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Ms. Takaichi would be Japan’s first female prime minister in a country where women are drastically underrepresented at the highest levels of power.
Oct. 4, 2025, 9:15 a.m. ET
Sanae Takaichi, a veteran conservative lawmaker in Japan who cites Margaret Thatcher as an influence, is set to become Japan’s first female prime minister after prevailing Saturday in an important leadership election.
While she is poised to break a gender barrier in politics, Ms. Takaichi’s own views on women’s rights are complicated, and she has been criticized by some for not doing enough to promote gender equality.
Her rise reflects an eagerness for change by the governing Liberal Democratic Party, which she now leads, after electoral defeats over the past year — as well as the party’s attempt to respond to the growing strength of right-wing groups in Japan.
Here’s what to know about Ms. Takaichi, her views and the challenges she might face in leading Japan.
What is Ms. Takaichi’s background?
Ms. Takaichi, 64, grew up in Nara Prefecture in central Japan. She is an unusual figure in high-level Japanese politics because she does not come from a prominent political family. Her mother was a police officer, and her father worked for a car company. She was first elected to Parliament in 1993.
She attended Kobe University, where she played drums and drove a motorcycle. After graduation, she spent time in the United States, interning with Representative Patricia Schroeder of Colorado, a Democrat.
