Tokyo: Sanae Takaichi has been elected as Japan’s first female Prime Minister. Takaichi secured 237 votes out of 465 members of the Japanese Parliament.
A former TV anchor and drummer in a music band, Sanae Takaichi began her political journey in 1993 when she won a seat in the Lower House as an independent candidate. She had earlier contested the 1992 parliamentary elections but was unsuccessful. Undeterred, she ran again the following year and won, later joining the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in 1996.
Throughout her political career, Takaichi has been elected to the Parliament ten times, losing only once. Known as one of the most influential conservative voices within the LDP, she has previously served in key government roles, including Minister for Economic Security, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, and Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications.
Her election marks a historic moment in Japan’s political landscape, breaking a long-standing gender barrier in the country’s leadership.
