Japan Has Elected This Hardline Conservative Politician As Its First Woman Prime Minister
In Japan, only 10% of government positions are held by women.
Japan has elected hardline conservative politician Sanae Takaichi as its first woman prime minister, a historic moment in a country long dominated by male leaders.
The election followed the resignation of former prime minister Shigeru Ishiba in September after On mounting pressure from its own party, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
A veteran politician, 64-year-old Takaichi has served as the economic security minister and internal affairs minister and is known for her ultraconservative views on social issues.
Despite being the first woman to lead the country, Takaichi supports traditional gender roles and has been criticized for reinforcing the country’s patriarchal norms.
Takaichi has voiced her support for the Japanese imperial family’s male-only succession and for women to adopt their husband’s surnames after marriage.
She also opposes same-sex marriage.
She has only appointed two women ministers even though she has pledged to dramatically increase the number of women in her cabinet, according to AP.
Currently, women only hold about 10% of seats in parliament as of 2024.
Takaichi is an admirer of the UK’s first woman prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, also known for her strong conservative policies.
Takaichi has been described as Japan’s “Iron Lady”, a nickname used to describe Thatcher as well.
Takaichi has also faced backlash for visiting war-linked shrines honoring former military leaders, which critics said glorify Japan’s brutal militaristic past.
She has called for boosting Japan’s military strength and revisiting its pacifist constitution, moves that have drawn concern from China and South Korea , who view them as a lack of remorse for Japan’s wartime aggression.
On Oct. 4, Takiachi won the vote to become the leader of the LDP — the first woman to hold the position – and went on to also become the party’s nominee for prime minister.
On Tuesday, Oct. 21, she won the required majority in both the lower and upper house after the LDP formed a coalition with the center-right Japan Innovation Party (JIP) and was named as prime minister.
Takaichi is Japan’s fourth prime minister in the last five years.
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