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Sanae Takaichi

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Her Excellency

Sanae Takaichi
高市 早苗
Prime Minister of Japan
Assumed office
21 October 2025
MonarchNaruhito
Preceded byShigeru Ishiba
President of the Liberal Democratic Party
Assumed office
4 October 2025
Vice PresidentTarō Asō
Secretary-GeneralShun'ichi Suzuki
Preceded byShigeru Ishiba
Ministerial offices
Minister of State for Economic Security
In office
10 August 2022 – 1 October 2024
Prime MinisterFumio Kishida
Preceded byTakayuki Kobayashi
Succeeded byMinoru Kiuchi
Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications
In office
11 September 2019 – 16 September 2020
Prime MinisterShinzo Abe
Preceded byMasatoshi Ishida
Succeeded byRyota Takeda
In office
3 September 2014 – 3 August 2017
Prime MinisterShinzo Abe
Preceded byYoshitaka Shindō
Succeeded bySeiko Noda
Minister of State for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs
In office
26 September 2006 – 26 September 2007
Prime MinisterShinzo Abe
Preceded byYuriko Koike
Succeeded byFumio Kishida
Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy
In office
26 September 2006 – 26 September 2007
Prime MinisterShinzo Abe
Preceded byIwao Matsuda
Succeeded byFumio Kishida
Minister of State for Gender Equality and Social Affairs
In office
26 September 2006 – 26 September 2007
Prime MinisterShinzo Abe
Preceded byKuniko Inoguchi
Succeeded byYōko Kamikawa
Minister of State for Food Safety
In office
26 September 2006 – 26 September 2007
Prime MinisterShinzo Abe
Preceded byIwao Matsuda
Succeeded byShinya Izumi
Minister of State for Innovation
In office
26 September 2006 – 26 September 2007
Prime MinisterShinzo Abe
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Member of the House of Representatives
Assumed office
11 September 2005
Preceded byTetsuji Nakamura
Constituency
Majority43,516 (20.38%)
In office
19 July 1993 – 8 November 2003
Constituency
Personal details
Born (1961-03-07) 7 March 1961 (age 65)
Yamatokōriyama, Nara, Japan
Political partyLiberal Democratic (1996–present)
Other political
affiliations
Spouse(s)
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 2004; div. 2017)​
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 2021)​
Children3
EducationKobe University (BBA)
Signature
Websitesanae.gr.jp Edit this at Wikidata
Japanese name
Kanji高市 早苗
Revised HepburnTakaichi Sanae
Takaichi's voice
Takaichi delivers remarks after being appointed Prime Minister of Japan.
Recorded 21 October 2025

Sanae Takaichi (高市 早苗, Takaichi Sanae) (born 7 March 1961) is a Japanese politician serving as the prime minister of Japan and president of the Liberal Democratic Party since 2025. She is the country's first female prime minister and LDP president. Before becoming prime minister and the party's first female president, she has been a member of the House of Representatives since 2005, having served before from 1993 to 2003.[1] She is a member of the far-right organization Nippon Kaigi.[2]

Born in Yamatokōriyama, Nara Prefecture, Takaichi started her career as a news anchor. In the late 1980s, she worked as a fellow for the United States Congress. In 1993, she was elected to the House of Representatives as an independent, however switched parties to become a member of the New Frontier Party.

Before, Takaichi had jobs in the cabinet of Prime Ministers Shinzo Abe and Fumio Kishida. She was known for being the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications during the Abe government from 2019 to 2020. Takaichi ran for President of the Liberal Democratic Party three times in 2021, 2024 and successfully in 2025. Takaichi is a hard-line conservative and hard-line nationalist.[3][4][5] She has supported social conservative views including opposition to same-sex marriage and support for requiring couples to share a last name after marriage.[6]

In October 2025, Takaichi defeated Agricultural Minister Shinjirō Koizumi in the run-off of the 2025 Liberal Democratic presidential election. This made Takaichi the first female LDP president and after being confirmed by the Japanese Diet, she became the first female Prime Minister of Japan.[7] As prime minister, she led the LDP to a historic landslide victory in the 2026 general election, with the party keeping its majority in the House and setting a new postwar record for the most seats won by a single party with 316 seats.[8] Since her election as prime minister, Takaichi has been seen as one of the most powerful women in the world.[9][10]

Early life

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Takaichi was born and raised in the city of Yamatokōriyama in Nara, Japan.[11] Takaichi graduated from Unebi Senior High School before going to Kobe University and the Matsushita Institute of Government and Management. During her youth, she played the drums and heavy metal music.[12]

In 1987, she moved to the United States to work for Democratic U.S. Representative Pat Schroeder as a Congressional Fellow.[13][14] She returned to Japan in 1989 and wrote a book about her experience in the U.S. Congress.[14]

In March 1989, she became a TV Asahi anchor and she co-hosted the station's "Kodawari TV Pre★Stage" with Renho.[15][16]

Political career

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Takaichi was first elected to the House of Representatives in the 1993 election as an independent.[17] In the following year she joined the minor "Liberals" party led by Koji Kakizawa, which soon merged into the New Frontier Party.[18]

In 2002 she was appointed as the Senior Vice Minister of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry under Junichiro Koizumi.

In the 2003 election, she lost in the Nara 1st district by Democratic Party lawmaker Sumio Mabuchi. She moved to the nearby city of Ikoma and won a seat representing the Nara 2nd district in the 2005 election.[19] In 2004, while she was out of the Diet, she taught economics at Kinki University.[17]

Before becoming prime minister, she met with President Lai Ching-te at the Presidential Office in Taiwan, April 2025

On 26 August 2021, Takaichi announced her candidacy for the Liberal Democratic leadership in the 2021 election.[20] She lost the election to former Foreign Affairs Minister Fumio Kishida on 29 September.[21]

In March 2023, opposition upper house member Hiroyuki Konishi said that he had gotten a document from the former administration of Shinzō Abe suggesting intentions to get involved in the freedom of broadcasting by putting political pressure on broadcasters that were against the Abe government and to the Liberal Democratic Party.[22] Takaichi was Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications during the time. Takaichi said that the document was fake and promised to resign from the Diet if the document was proven to be real.[22] Several days later, the Internal Affairs ministry confirmed the document was real and opposition Diet members called on Takaichi to resign.[23] Following the announcement Takaichi went back on her plans to quit and said that parts of the document talking about her were incorrect.[23]

In August 2024, Takaichi announced she planned to run for the Liberal Democratic leadership election a second time to replace Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.[24] She formally announced her campaign on 9 September.[25] On 27 September, she made it to the run-off but narrowly lost to Shigeru Ishiba.[26]

Takaichi has called British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher a role model.[27] Takaichi also has the nickname "Iron Lady," just like Thatcher.[27][28][29]

Former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida may have nicknamed her "Taliban Takaichi", while another anonymous senior LDP legislator called the members of the hard right and Takaichi a “cancer" within the party.[30]

Prime Minister (2025–present)

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Takaichi giving a speech in Nagoya, September 2025

2025 LDP leadership election

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On 18 September 2025, Takaichi announced her candidacy for LDP president in the 2025 election, following Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's resignation.[31] In early polling, Takaichi and Agricultural Minister Shinjirō Koizumi were seen as the early frontrunners of the election.[32] On 4 October, election day, Takaichi came in first place during the first round of voting with 183 (31.07%) of the vote.[33] Agricultural Minister Shinjirō Koizumi came in second with 164 (27.84%) of the vote, meaning that both Koizumi and Takaichi advanced to the run-off to elect the party leader.[33] Takaichi would go on to defeat Koizumi in the run-off by a 54% to 46% margin.[34]

On 4 October 2025, Takaichi was elected as the first female President of the Liberal Democratic Party, replacing outgoing President and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.[34] At first, it was difficult for Takaichi to get the Diet votes she needed to become prime minister after the LDP's coalition with Komeito ended.[35] However on 16 October, Takaichi was able to form a new coalition with the Japan Innovation Party, which gave her enough support for be confirmed as prime minister.[36] On 21 October, Takaichi was confirmed as the prime minister-designate during a special session of the Japanese Diet.[37] This made Takaichi the country's first female prime minister.[38][39]

Tenure

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Takaichi during her first press conference, October 2025

After becoming prime minister, Takaichi formed her cabinet. At first, she said that she would hire more women to her cabinet than ever before,[40] only two would join: Satsuki Katayama as Japan's first female finance minister,[41] and Kimi Onoda as economic security minister.[42] In her first press conference, Takaichi said that she focused on "equality of opportunity" above all else, and had picked ministers based on their qualifications, not gender.[43]

The cabinet was viewed as supporting party unity, with people who ran against Takaichi receiving key positions: Toshimitsu Motegi as foreign minister, Yoshimasa Hayashi as internal affairs minister and Shinjiro Koizumi as defense minister. Former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's close advisor Ryosei Akazawa was promoted to minister of economy, trade and industry.[44][45]

A week after becoming prime minister, Takaichi made her first diplomatic trip when she visited Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for the 47th ASEAN Summit. She had meetings with Philippine President Bongbong Marcos, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.[46][47] [48][49] On 28 October 2025, Takaichi met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Tokyo where the two signed agreements on trade, minerals, nuclear technology and rare earths.[50][51] During their visit at the US Yokosuka Naval Base, aboard the USS George Washington (CVN-73), Takaichi promised make the relationship between the United States and Japan stronger.[52][53] She also said she would recommend Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.[54]

In opinion polls done during late October–early November 2025, Takaichi's government received the approval of between 65% and 83% of respondents, among the highest such ratings of any government in twenty years.[55][56]

On 23 January 2026, Takaichi dissolved the House of Representatives, allowing a general election to be held on 8 February.[57] The election resulted in a historic landslide victory for the LDP, with the party winning an outright two-thirds supermajority and keeping its majority status in the chamber. The LDP's total of at least 316 seats is the most ever won by a party in Japanese electoral history.[8] Takaichi's popularity was said to be an important reason for the LDP's landslide victory.[58]

Personal life

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Takaichi married Taku Yamamoto, a fellow member of the House of Representatives, in 2004.[59] The couple did not have any children of their own, but Takaichi adopted her husband's three children from another marriage. They agreed to a divorce in July 2017.[60][61] However, they fixed their marriage in December 2021. She has four grandchildren through her stepchildren.[62][63]

After having surgery for a gynecological disease, Takaichi found it difficult to get pregnant and give birth, and gave up on having children. In 2007, she said, "I want society to be welcoming to infertile women."[64]

References

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  1. ↑ Davis, Javier C. HernándezRiver Akira; Tokyo, Hisako UenoReporting from (2025-10-04). "Japan Is Set for Its First Female Prime Minister". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  2. ↑ "All about Sanae Takaichi, ultranationalist Abe protégé, now Japan's first woman PM". The Indian Express. 21 October 2025. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  3. ↑ "Japanese PM denies media reports of his resignation after bruising election loss". France 24. 23 July 2025. Archived from the original on 24 July 2025. Retrieved 24 July 2025. Ishiba defeated hardline conservative Sanae Takaichi in a party leadership runoff last year.
  4. ↑ Inagaki, Kana (8 September 2021). "Sanae Takaichi outlines bid to become Japan's first female prime minister". Financial Times. Tokyo. Archived from the original on 8 September 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  5. ↑ McCurry, Justin (2025-09-07). "Japan PM Shigeru Ishiba to resign amid fallout from disastrous elections". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 7 September 2025. Retrieved 2025-09-08.
  6. ↑ Rich, Motoko; Inoue, Makiko; Hida, Hikari (20 September 2021). "A Hard-Line Conservative Hopes to Be Japan's First Female Leader". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2021-09-20. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  7. ↑ "Sanae Takaichi wins historic vote to become Japan's first female prime minister". BBC News. 21 October 2025. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  8. 1 2 "LDP set for big win in snap election". The Japan Times. 2026-02-08. Archived from the original on 8 February 2026. Retrieved 2026-02-08.
  9. ↑ Forbes, Moira (December 10, 2025). "The World's Most Powerful Women 2025: Where Do Women Hold Real Power?". Forbes. Retrieved February 18, 2026.
  10. ↑ The Economist (February 12, 2026). "The world's most powerful woman". The Economist. Retrieved February 18, 2026.
  11. ↑ "第201回国会　本会議　第10号（令和2年3月17日（火曜日））". www.shugiin.go.jp. Archived from the original on 19 March 2025. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  12. ↑ "Japan's first female governing-party leader is an ultra-conservative star in a male-dominated group". MSN. 13 October 2025. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  13. ↑ "プロフィール | 高市早苗(たかいちさなえ)". sanae.gr.jp. Archived from the original on 2024-09-29. Retrieved 2020-09-16.
  14. 1 2 "A Hard-Line Conservative Hopes to Be Japan's First Female Leader". The New York Times. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  15. ↑ "高市早苗氏が30年前、立民･蓮舫氏と並んでテレビ司会をしていた過去". NEWSポストセブン (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 16 September 2021. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
  16. ↑ "Sanae Takaichi is set to become Japan's first female prime minister". The Washington Post. 4 October 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  17. 1 2 "The Cabinet: TAKAICHI Sanae". Prime Minister's Office. Archived from the original on 2019-10-26. Retrieved 2020-09-16.
  18. ↑ "新党結成、政界再編の歴史 写真特集：時事ドットコム". 時事ドットコム (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2024-09-01. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  19. ↑ Johnston, Eric (2017-05-21). "Redrawing of Nara's electoral map may force internal affairs chief into rematch with DP's Mabuchi". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 2017-05-21. Retrieved 2020-09-16.
  20. ↑ Johnston, Eric (27 August 2021). "Off to the races: LDP presidential election campaign begins". The Japan Times. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  21. ↑ "Fumio Kishida to Become Japan's Next Prime Minister After Party Election Win". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  22. 1 2 "Japan minister vows to quit if document on broadcasters proven real". Kyodo News. 3 March 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-03-03. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  23. 1 2 "Japan ministry says files suggesting pressure on media were its documents". Kyodo News. 7 March 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-03-07. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  24. ↑ "自民党・高市早苗氏、総裁選「本格的に準備進めていく」" (in Japanese). 日本経済新聞. 2024-08-20. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  25. ↑ "Conservative Sanae Takaichi makes 2nd bid in Japan ruling party chief race". Kyodo News. 2024-09-09. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  26. ↑ "【速報中】自民党新総裁に石破氏 決選投票で高市氏破る". 日本経済新聞 (in Japanese). 2024-09-27. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
  27. 1 2 "Does Sanae Takaichi have a real shot at becoming Japan's first female leader?". The Japan Times. 25 September 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2025. A newscaster turned politician, Takaichi is a longtime admirer of 'The Iron Lady,' former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
  28. ↑ "Will 'Iron Lady' Takaichi Sanae Be Japan's First Female Prime Minister?". The Diplomat. 24 September 2025. Retrieved 27 September 2025. Whether Japan will have its first female prime minister will depend on the performance of Japan's own "Iron Lady," Takaichi Sanae.
  29. ↑ "Japan's 'Iron Lady' Sanae Takaichi appeals to China hawks before LDP vote". South China Morning Post. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  30. ↑ "The conservative hardliner who could become Japan's first female PM". Financial Times. 30 September 2025. Archived from the original on 30 September 2025. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  31. ↑ "Japan veteran lawmaker Takaichi says she will run in LDP leadership race". chinadailyhk. Retrieved 2025-09-18.
  32. ↑ "Japan PM hopefuls prepare leadership bids, markets recoil". Reuters. 8 September 2025. Archived from the original on 8 September 2025. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  33. 1 2 "Takaichi and Koizumi head to runoff in LDP leadership race". The Japan Times. 4 October 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  34. 1 2 "Takaichi wins LDP leadership vote; likely to become Japan's first female PM". The Japan Times. 4 October 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  35. ↑ "Japan's ruling coalition splits, throwing Takaichi's PM bid into doubt". Reuters. 10 October 2025. Retrieved 23 November 2025.
  36. ↑ 維新が大臣送り込まず閣外協力検討. Yahoo Japan (in Japanese). 16 October 2025. Retrieved 17 October 2025.[permanent dead link]
  37. ↑ "首相指名選挙、１５日で調整…臨時国会召集". 読売新聞オンライン (in Japanese). 2025-10-01. Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  38. ↑ "Sanae Takaichi wins historic vote to become Japan's first female prime minister". BBC News. 21 October 2025. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  39. ↑ "Japan Has a New Leader, and She's a Heavy Metal Drummer". The New York Times. 21 October 2025. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  40. ↑ "女性"初" 高市新首相が誕生 新内閣発足へ 初入閣10人、女性閣僚は2人…公明・斎藤氏、国民・玉木氏とも笑顔で握手（FNNプライムオンライン）". Yahoo! News (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2025-10-21. Retrieved 2025-10-21.
  41. ↑ "Japan Set to Have First Female Finance Minister, Reports Say". Bloomberg. 21 October 2025. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  42. ↑ "Sanae Takaichi appoints just two women to cabinet after becoming Japan's first female PM". The Guardian. 21 October 2025. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  43. ↑ "高市早苗・自民党総裁、第104代首相に選出 憲政史上初の女性宰相" [LDP President Sanae Takaichi is 104th Prime Minister and the First Woman to Hold the Role since the Introduction of Constitutional Government]. BBC News (in Japanese). 21 October 2025. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  44. ↑ Abe, Yuta; Misawa, Daiki (22 October 2025). "Japan Prime Minister Seeks Party Unity in New Cabinet; LDP Campaign Rivals Named to Key Posts". Japan News (in Japanese). Yomiuri Shimbun. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  45. ↑ MacArthur Bosack, Michael (22 October 2025). "Breaking down Sanae Takaichi's Cabinet picks". Japan Times. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  46. ↑ Johnson, Jesse (27 October 2025). "Takaichi makes diplomatic debut with ASEAN maritime security and AI pledge". The Japan Times.
  47. ↑ "Japan PM Takaichi meets Philippine President Marcos in Malaysia".
  48. ↑ "New Japan Prime Minister Takaichi set for global diplomatic stage".
  49. ↑ "FOCUS: Japan's new PM Takaichi makes mark at ASEAN amid China concerns". Japan Wire by KYODO NEWS. 28 October 2025.
  50. ↑ "Trump lauds Japan's 'great' female leader, signs rare earths deal".
  51. ↑ "US, Japan leaders ink rare earths, nuclear power tie-ups ahead of Trump-Xi meet this week".
  52. ↑ "Trump ends Japan leg of Asia tour after meeting Sanae Takaichi". www.bbc.com. 28 October 2025.
  53. ↑ "Donald Trump and Sanae Takaichi promise 'golden age' for US-Japan alliance". www.ft.com.
  54. ↑ Chambers, Francesca (28 October 2025). "A strong handshake and another Nobel Prize nod for Trump in Japan". USA Today. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  55. ↑ "Japan's New Government Boasts High Approval Ratings". thediplomat.com. Archived from the original on 12 December 2025. Retrieved 2025-11-09.
  56. ↑ "Takaichi Cabinet's High Approval from Independent Voters Seen in Long-Term Administrations". The Japan News. 4 November 2025. Archived from the original on 12 December 2025.
  57. ↑ "Japan's Takaichi dissolves parliament after only 3 months in office, setting up snap election". AP News. 23 January 2026. Archived from the original on 23 January 2026. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  58. ↑ "Japan's governing party projected to win snap election majority". BBC News. 2026-02-08. Archived from the original on 8 February 2026. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  59. ↑ "Marriage Report". Archived from the original on 2015-06-02. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  60. ↑ "高市総務相「仮面夫婦」だった自民党の山本拓衆院議員と離婚 〈週刊朝日〉". AERA dot. (アエラドット) (in Japanese). 2017-07-19. Archived from the original on 2020-09-08. Retrieved 2020-09-16.
  61. ↑ 「週刊文春」編集部 (27 April 2022). "高市早苗デッド政調会長の再婚 夫の山本拓血を求める・前衆院議員が「高市姓」に". 文春オンライン. Archived from the original on 2022-04-27. Retrieved 2022-08-07.
  62. ↑ "高市早苗の家族は？息子は養子？孫の存在・結婚・離婚の情報についても調査！ ｜ monjiroBLOG". monjiroBLOG (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2021-09-28. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  63. ↑ "高市総務相が山本拓議員と離婚 政治的立場の違いで - 社会 : 日刊スポーツ". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2021-10-29. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  64. ↑ "不妊の女性にも温かい社会であって欲しい | 大臣ウィークリー 平成18年9月～平成19年8月 | コラム | 高市早苗(たかいちさなえ)". Sanae.gr.jp. Archived from the original on 24 July 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2025.

Other websites

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