Japan’s New Prime Minister: Who Is Sanae Takaichi?

On October 21, 2025 Japan elected Sanae Takaichi as prime minister. She heralds a milestone achievement as Japan’s first female prime minister, especially given the severe underrepresentation of women in Japanese politics, with the country ranking 118 out of 148 countries in the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Gender Gap Index. However, she also signals the rise of far-right nationalism all over the world, and her election could send shockwaves throughout East Asia.

AsiaBy Andrew LayDecember 11, 2025Japan, politics, feminism, Italy, immigrants, economic policy, North Macedonia, conservatism