Staff Reports
Japan has just turned a corner in its political story as Sanae Takaichi was elected prime minister by the Diet on October 21, 2025, becoming the country’s first woman to hold the office. This is a historic moment that conservatives around the world should recognize — not because of identity politics, but because a leader who believes in national strength and traditional values now stands at the helm of a key U.S. ally.
Takaichi is no moderate by Washington or Brussels standards; she is a hardline conservative with roots in the Abe era and a track record of standing up for family, security, and sovereignty. Her record shows opposition to radical social reengineering favored by the global left, and she has often signaled that Japan’s cultural traditions and security will not be sacrificed to fashionable causes.
Her rise came after the LDP scrambled to rebuild itself following electoral setbacks, striking a deal with the Japan Innovation Party to clear the path to the premiership. That coalition arrangement — and Komeito’s earlier withdrawal from the governing bloc — underlines the messy but necessary work of conservative parties reassembling a governing majority to get things done.
Markets noticed immediately: investors rewarded Takaichi’s pro-growth, pro-stimulus posture with a “Takaichi trade” rally, pushing the Nikkei to record highs while the yen weakened as traders priced in looser policy and bigger fiscal muscle. This reaction is proof that markets prefer leaders who prioritize growth and stability over virtue-signaling austerity, and it bodes well for those who want a Japan that can stand economically and geopolitically beside the United States.
Don’t be fooled by the headline of “first female prime minister” into thinking Tokyo has suddenly embraced a progressive agenda; Takaichi’s cabinet choices reflected her conservative instincts, with only two women among senior ministers despite the symbolic milestone. Conservatives should celebrate that leadership now rests in hands that value national cohesion, not the hollow triumph of identity politics that changes optics but not outcomes.
Now comes the hard part: translating rhetoric into results. Takaichi has signaled she will strengthen Japan’s defense, push economic revitalization, and keep a steady hand in dealing with China and the region — exactly the sort of posture conservatives in Washington and Tokyo should endorse and deepen. A friend who rebuilds their house and secures their borders is far more valuable than one who posts empty platitudes about equality while letting their nation wither.
For patriots and pragmatic conservatives, Takaichi’s premiership is a welcome reminder that principled, tough-minded leadership still matters. Watch closely as she moves from ceremony to policy — if she follows through, Japan could become a stronger, freer, and more reliable ally, and the world will be better for having a nation willing to put country before trend.
