Returning once again with the News Dispatch Corner from Chubby Mom’s family, today’s report is about Sanae Takaichi (高市早苗) — who was elected as the leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on October 4, 2025, and later became Japan’s first-ever female Prime Minister on October 21, 2025. The LDP, since its founding in 1995, has elected a female party leader for the first time, and Japan has now seen the historic rise of its first woman to hold the office of Prime Minister.
So, who exactly is Sanae Takaichi (高市早苗)? What kind of political stance does she hold? How is the Prime Minister of Japan elected, and when were the official election and appointment dates? Let’s find out together.
Below is a table of contents that allows you to click and jump directly to the section you want to read — please refer to it for convenience.
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Profile and Major Career of Sanae Takaichi
Sanae Takaichi (高市早苗) is a 64-year-old Japanese politician, born on March 7, 1961, in Yamatokoriyama, Nara Prefecture, Japan. She graduated from the Faculty of Business Administration at Kobe University and completed a program at the Matsushita Institute of Government and Management (松下政経塾).
The Matsushita Institute was founded by Konosuke Matsushita, the founder of Matsushita Electric (now Panasonic). It is not a formal university or degree-granting institution but a leadership program focused on politics, business, and economics. It primarily educates young politicians and future leaders, and many influential figures in Japanese politics have completed the program.
| Major Career of Sanae Takaichi |
| 1987: Interned at the office of U.S. House Representative Patricia Schroeder |
| Before politics: Worked as an announcer and political commentator for TV Asahi |
| 1993: Elected to the House of Representatives (as an independent) |
| 1996: Joined the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) |
| Served as Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications under the Abe Cabinet and held several other ministerial positions |
| 2025: Elected as President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) ★ First female LDP president |
Additionally, Takaichi married Taku Yamamoto in 2004, divorced in 2017, and remarried in 2021. She reportedly has three children.
Sanae Takaichi’s Political Career and Position Within the Party
Sanae Takaichi was first elected to Japan’s House of Representatives in 1993 as an independent candidate. For those unfamiliar with the House of Representatives, Japan’s National Diet is a bicameral legislature composed of the House of Representatives (衆議院) and the House of Councillors (参議院). Among the two, the House of Representatives holds greater authority—it has priority in passing laws, approving budgets, and selecting the Prime Minister.
In 1996, Takaichi joined the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and began building her political career. Through her close relationship with former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, she served in several cabinet positions, most notably as Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications in both 2014 and 2019, playing a key role within the LDP. Takaichi ran for the LDP presidency in both 2021 and 2024, but she was defeated in the final rounds each time.
However, on October 4, 2025, she won the LDP presidential election, securing 183 votes in the first round to take the lead and ultimately winning in the runoff. This marked a historic moment, as she became the first female president of the Liberal Democratic Party since its founding in 1955. The term of the LDP president is three years, and the individual may serve up to three consecutive terms, meaning a maximum of nine years in office.
Sanae Takaichi’s Political Orientation and Key Policies
Sanae Takaichi is regarded as a conservative and nationalist figure in Japanese politics. She has been known as a member of the Nippon Kaigi (Japan Conference)—a conservative and nationalist organization established in 1997.
Nippon Kaigi is a coalition of political and social groups that advocates for constitutional revision (especially the revision of Article 9, which renounces war), the promotion of the Emperor-centered state, the preservation of traditional Japanese culture and values, and a revisionist view of Japan’s wartime history. Many influential members of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) are also affiliated with Nippon Kaigi.
Takaichi supports amending Japan’s pacifist Constitution, particularly Article 9, to allow for a stronger military role. Domestically, she advocates for the continuation of Abenomics, emphasizes traditional family values, and has opposed certain gender and sexuality-related policies such as same-sex marriage and gender diversity education.
Below is a summary of her stance on major gender-related policies
| Policy | Sanae Takaichi’s Stance |
| Same-Sex Marriage | Opposes legalization, emphasizing the protection of the “traditional family structure” based on marriage between a man and a woman. |
| Gender Diversity Policies (e.g., education on gender identity in schools and public institutions) | Opposes, citing concerns about social confusion and the erosion of traditional values. |
| Women’s Advancement Policies (e.g., gender quotas, expanding the number of female executives) | Opposes mandatory systems, arguing that ability and gender should be evaluated separately. |
How Members of Japan’s National Diet and the Prime Minister Are Elected
As mentioned earlier, Japan’s National Diet is bicameral, consisting of the House of Representatives (衆議院) and the House of Councillors (参議院). Members of both houses are directly elected by Japanese citizens through national elections. Among the two, the House of Representatives holds greater authority in areas such as passing laws, approving budgets, and selecting the Prime Minister. Below is a comparison table of the two houses.
| Category | House of Representatives (衆議院) | House of Councillors (参議院) |
| Number of Members | 465 | 248 |
| Term Length | 4 years (subject to dissolution) | 6 years (half re-elected every 3 years) |
| Election Method | Direct national election | Direct national election |
| Voting System | Mixed system (single-member districts + proportional representation) | Mixed system (regional constituencies + proportional representation) |
| Dissolution | Possible | Not possible |
| Main Powers | Selecting the Prime Minister, priority over the budget, final decision on legislation | Reviewing bills, providing checks and balance |
Japan’s Prime Minister is chosen through a vote by the members of both houses of the National Diet (House of Representatives and House of Councillors). Unlike in some other countries, Japan’s Prime Minister does not have a fixed term—a new Prime Minister can be selected at any time due to political changes such as resignation, loss of party leadership, or a no-confidence vote.
| Reason for Prime Minister Change | Explanation |
| ① Voluntary Resignation | The Prime Minister resigns voluntarily due to health issues, low approval ratings, or political scandals. (e.g., Yoshihide Suga, Shinzo Abe) |
| ② Expiration or Change of Ruling Party Leadership Term | When the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is in power, the party’s president automatically becomes the new Prime Minister after internal leadership elections. (e.g., Kishida → Sanae Takaichi) |
| ③ Change in the House of Representatives Majority After Elections | If the LDP loses its majority in a general election, another party may elect its own Prime Minister. |
| ④ No-Confidence Motion by the Diet | If the House of Representatives passes a no-confidence motion, the Prime Minister must either resign or dissolve the House. |
In short, both houses of the Diet vote to choose the Prime Minister, but if their selections differ, the decision of the House of Representatives takes precedence. Because the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) currently holds a majority in the House of Representatives, the LDP president is effectively guaranteed to become Japan’s Prime Minister.
Current Situation and Possibility of Becoming Japan’s Prime Minister — Prime Minister Election, Voting, and Appointment Date
As mentioned earlier, on October 4, 2025, Sanae Takaichi (高市早苗) was elected as the first female president of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Her victory is seen as a turning point in strengthening her political base within the party, and her conservative stance is expected to further solidify the LDP’s traditional support base. Because Takaichi’s position as a potential Prime Minister could significantly affect international relations, including those with South Korea, the global community is closely watching her next moves.
As a reminder, Japan’s Prime Minister is elected through a vote in the National Diet, meaning that both the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors vote to choose the Prime Minister. If the two houses select different candidates, the decision of the House of Representatives takes precedence. Since the ruling LDP currently holds a majority in the House of Representatives, the party president is effectively guaranteed to become the next Prime Minister. Therefore, Sanae Takaichi is highly likely to become Japan’s first female Prime Minister.
Japan’s First Female Prime Minister Elected (Prime Minister Election and Appointment)
The election to designate Japan’s new Prime Minister was held in the National Diet on October 21, 2025. According to reports from Japan’s NHK and Reuters, Sanae Takaichi, the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), was elected as Japan’s 104th Prime Minister during the parliamentary vote. With this result, Japan has officially appointed its first-ever female Prime Minister in history.
Today, we took a look at Sanae Takaichi, the first female president of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), who is currently attracting much public attention. I hope this post was helpful for those who were curious about who Sanae Takaichi is and how Japan’s Prime Minister is elected and appointed. This concludes today’s post.
Today, we looked into Sanae Takaichi, the newly elected first female president of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party. I hope this post helped those who were curious about who she is and how likely she is to become Japan’s next Prime Minister.
That’s all for today’s report. Bye!