TOKYO: Sanae Takaichi has been elected as Japan’s first female Prime Minister, marking a historic moment in the country’s political landscape.
According to foreign news agencies, Takaichi secured 237 votes out of 465 members of Parliament, surpassing the 233 votes needed to be elected.
A former TV anchor and drummer in a music band, Takaichi entered Japanese politics in 1993, winning a seat in the House of Representatives as an independent candidate.
Although she lost her first parliamentary election in 1992, she remained determined, and a year later, she was elected as an independent lawmaker. She joined the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in 1996 and has since been elected 10 times.
Takaichi has earned recognition as a vocal conservative voice within her party and has held several senior government positions, including Minister for Economic Security, Trade and Industry, Internal Affairs, and Communications.
She first ran for LDP leadership in 2021 but lost to former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. In 2024, she came first in the initial round of voting but was defeated by Shigeru Ishiba.
On her third attempt this year, she succeeded, and Parliament confirmed her appointment, paving the way for her historic tenure as Japan’s first female Prime Minister.
