Japan’s parliament has elected Sanae Takaichi as the country’s first female prime minister, marking a historic milestone in its postwar political history. The 64-year-old Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader secured 237 votes in the 465-seat lower house, gaining the majority required to take office.

A Landmark Moment in Japanese Politics

In a decisive parliamentary vote, Sanae Takaichi became Japan’s first female prime minister after winning 237 votes against Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP), who received 149 votes. Following approval from the upper house, Takaichi is expected to be sworn in later today, officially taking the helm of the world’s fourth-largest economy.

Ishiba’s Resignation Opened the Way

Takaichi’s election follows the resignation of Shigeru Ishiba, who stepped down as both prime minister and LDP president after the ruling coalition lost its upper-house majority in July’s parliamentary elections.

After Ishiba’s departure, the LDP held an internal leadership race in which Takaichi — a former Minister for Economic Security and Internal Affairs — emerged as the party’s new leader. Public opinion polls had already identified her as one of the most favored candidates among Japanese voters.

Inspired by “Iron Lady” Margaret Thatcher

Takaichi has repeatedly cited Margaret Thatcher, the late British prime minister, as her political inspiration. She has praised Thatcher’s “strong convictions and feminine warmth” and recalled meeting her at a symposium shortly before Thatcher’s death in 2013.

Like Thatcher, Takaichi rose from a modest background — her mother was a police officer and her father worked at an automobile company — a contrast to Japan’s many leaders from elite political families.

Championing Abenomics and Fiscal Expansion

Despite her admiration for Thatcher, Takaichi’s economic stance differs sharply from the British leader’s fiscal restraint. She has long supported “Abenomics,” the stimulus policies pioneered by the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, advocating for more public spending, tax cuts, and renewed government influence over the Bank of Japan.

Her economic platform centers on reviving domestic demand and boosting investor confidence, even if that means maintaining Japan’s expansive fiscal policies.

Conservative Shift and Symbolic Breakthrough

Takaichi’s victory signals a potential shift to the right in the country’s governance. Known for her conservative views and emphasis on national security, Takaichi is expected to steer the LDP toward a firmer policy direction at home and abroad.

As she prepares to take the oath of office, Sanae Takaichi stands as a historic figure — Japan’s first woman to lead the government and a symbol of both continuity and change in a nation balancing tradition with transformation.