Japan set for first female prime minister

Saturday, 4 October 2025 13:10

Japan could be about to have its first female prime minister, as a woman is elected leader of the governing party.

Sanae Takaichi has been selected as the head of the conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

The LDP is Japan's governing party, and the largest in its House of Representatives, which selects the national leader.

The result is particularly notable as the country scores low on gender equality measures.

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It scores lowest in the G7 group of industrialised nations in the World Economic Forum's latest global gender gap report, ranking 118 out of 148 countries.

Ms Takaichi was the only woman in the contest and won on a platform of cutting taxes and increasing subsidies.

Her campaign also involved populist promises such as cracking down on rule-breaking visitors and immigrants.

The first official campaign speech began with a story about tourists reportedly kicking sacred deer in her hometown of Nara.

Visitor numbers to the island have reached record highs in recent years.

What next?

Japan could have its first female leader as soon as 15 October when a parliamentary vote is expected.

Split opposition parties mean it's likely LDP's candidate will be chosen.

Gender equality could be boosted as Ms Takaichi promised to form a cabinet with women's representation "not particularly lower than Nordic countries".

Nordic countries are typically ranked highly for gender equality.

"I wouldn't appoint women just because they're women," Ms Takaichi said. "But the plan is to pick far more women who are capable and willing to serve the nation."

Just 10% of outgoing prime minister Shigeru Ishiba's 20 cabinet members are women.

Who is Sanae Takaichi?

Ms Takaichi has said Britain's first female prime minister Margaret Thatcher is her hero.

She played drums in a heavy metal band while at university but said in her victory speech she has "thrown away my own work-life balance and I will work, work, work".

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