Takaichi, 64, defeated Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi in a closely contested runoff vote, succeeding Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba as party leader….reports Asian Lite News
Former Internal Affairs Minister Sanae Takaichi has won the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential election, setting her on course to become Japan’s first female prime minister, Kyodo News reported on Saturday.
Takaichi, 64, defeated Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi in a closely contested runoff vote, succeeding Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba as party leader. Her victory positions her to take office later this month, as the ruling coalition between the LDP and Komeito continues to command the largest bloc in Japan’s parliament. The opposition, meanwhile, remains fragmented, giving Takaichi a clear path to leadership.
The election saw five candidates vying for the top post, with Takaichi, Koizumi, and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi emerging as the strongest contenders. The other two candidates were former Economic Security Minister Takayuki Kobayashi and former Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi — both University of Tokyo graduates with master’s degrees from Harvard University.
According to Kyodo News, Takaichi enjoyed widespread public support, while Koizumi, 44 — the son of former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi — was the preferred choice among many LDP lawmakers. The generational contrast between the two, along with their differing policy approaches, gave the race a distinctive edge.
Takaichi is widely regarded as a staunch conservative, known for her firm stance on national security and her advocacy of traditional social values. By contrast, Koizumi, who would have become Japan’s youngest postwar leader, represented a more reformist wing within the party, emphasising innovation and generational renewal.
Meanwhile, Hayashi, also 64, a centrist with extensive ministerial experience, emerged as a credible challenger in the final weeks of the campaign. His reputation as a pragmatic diplomat helped him narrow the gap, though he ultimately fell short of the runoff.
Takaichi’s victory follows a turbulent period for Japan’s ruling bloc. In early September, outgoing Prime Minister Ishiba announced his decision to step down, taking responsibility for the LDP-Komeito coalition’s loss of its majority in the House of Councillors during the July election. The coalition also lost its majority in the House of Representatives election in October 2024, marking one of the most difficult stretches for the party in recent memory.
As the new LDP president, Takaichi’s term will run until 2027. Her immediate challenge will be to restore voter confidence, stabilise the coalition, and revive Japan’s flagging economy while managing growing regional tensions.
Her historic win represents a symbolic milestone in Japanese politics, long dominated by male leadership. If formally confirmed by parliament, Sanae Takaichi will make history as Japan’s first female prime minister — a moment likely to resonate both domestically and internationally.
