Sanae Takaichi becomes Japan’s first female prime minister after historic parliamentary vote

Japan has elected Sanae Takaichi as its first female prime minister, a watershed moment in the country’s modern political history. The 64-year-old conservative lawmaker, long dubbed Japan’s “Iron Lady” for her tough persona and admiration of Margaret Thatcher, secured a parliamentary majority on Tuesday following a run-off vote in the Upper House.

Takaichi, from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), won 237 votes in the Lower House and 125 votes in the Upper House — just one above the threshold needed for a simple majority. Her victory follows her party’s new coalition deal and marks her third attempt at Japan’s top job.

Her rise comes at a turbulent time for the LDP, which has been plagued by political scandals and a slump in public trust. Takaichi becomes Japan’s fourth prime minister in just five years

For many, her win carries a double meaning: a political reset and a historic first. Japan ranks among the lowest in the G7 for gender equality, and women hold fewer than 10 percent of seats in its parliament.

Takaichi’s leadership marks the start of a new chapter in Japanese politics, one that could either reinforce the LDP’s traditional roots or redefine them under its first woman leader. Either way, history has been made in Tokyo.