Takaichi Sanae made history recently as Japan’s first female prime minister. And so far, her government is riding a strong tailwind.
For a while, it was uncertain whether Takaichi could even become PM. Her ascendancy to head of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) was the straw that broke the camel’s back for the LDP’s quarter-century-old coalition partner, the Kōmeitō. That potentially left Takaichi without the votes to be seated as PM.
That’s when the Innovation Party (Ishin no Kai) came to the rescue. The Kansai regional party has been laboring for years to extend its reach and become a true national party.
The breakup of the LDP/Kōmeitō coalition was the opportunity it needed. After days of negotiation, the Innovation Party agreed to back Takaichi, delivering her Japan’s top political seat.
The Japanese public has high hopes. Polling from the end of October 2025 shows the Takaichi cabinet with somewhere between 68% and 74% public support. Nikkei puts her 20+ points higher than her predecessor, Ishiba Shigeru, who started his short-lived term with a mere 51% support. It’s the third-highest level of support for a new PM in Japan’s post-WWII history.
The numbers are even more stunning when you consider her pre-election polling. A Jiji poll conducted between October 13th and 15th put support for her candidacy at a mere 43.8% – well below Ishiba.
However, polling data shows that her support is coming from an intriguing place. It also shows that most women in Japan don’t believe they’ll benefit from her leadership – unless, of course, their name happens to be Takaichi Sanae.
