Japan Elects Conservative Politician With Interesting History And Road Ahead

(Photo EUGENE HOSHIKO/POOL)

 

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Don’t be fooled by the name: the Liberal Democratic Party may sound like a home for illiberal liberals you might find in the U.S., but it is actually one of Japan’s biggest conservative, nationalist parties.

She also played the drums in a metal band and likes Iron Maiden. https://t.co/FBDwaUIUtY

— Eireann (Erin) Van Natta🇺🇸 (@evannatta1776) October 21, 2025

Dubbed Japan’s “Iron Lady,” Takaichi was born to humble origins in 1961 in Nara, a smaller city home to numerous historic temples and shrines. Her mother reportedly worked for a local police department, while her father worked at a car parts store. Takaichi would go on to attend Kobe University as a commuter and, after graduation, the prestigious Matsushita Institute of Government and Management. In the 1980s, she interned for Democratic Colorado Rep. Patricia Schroeder, who, interestingly enough, was considered an ardent feminist.

“She was very smiley and very reserved,” a childhood friend, Motoko Shimada, told The New York Times. “She didn’t have this strong-woman image. But she was able to notice when someone was not blending in well or struggling, and she was able to help them.”

Takaichi returned to Japan and worked as an author and television personality before launching her political career in 1993. She won her first election to the Japanese parliament running as an independent, and soon developed a close relationship with former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, whom she considered a mentor. During his first stint as prime minister in 2006, Abe appointed Takaichi to his cabinet, making her the most high-profile woman in Japanese politics. He did so again in 2012 for his second term, which lasted eight years. When Takaichi ran for prime minister in 2021, Abe offered his support and called her “the true star of the conservatives.” The pair have longed shared similar views about economics, defense spending, and the effort to re-militarize Japan.

And like Abe, Takaichi will probably have a warm relationship with President Donald Trump.

Trump

In her first major news conference Tuesday night, Takaichi said she will “build a strong Japanese economy and protect Japan’s national interests at all costs through diplomacy and security.” She also suggested that her government will be friendly to Trump, saying, “The alliance with the United States is the cornerstone of Japan’s foreign and security policy.” Trump and Takaichi will meet next later in October in Tokyo, for what will be Trump’s first visit to the country since his reelection. Takaichi is already working on an investment plan for the meeting, which includes a purchase of U.S. pickup trucks, soybeans, and gas, according to Reuters. Famously, Trump enjoyed a close relationship with Abe. After Abe was shot in 2022, Trump called him a “true friend” and said his assassination was “a tremendous blow to the wonderful people of Japan.” (

Social Issues

Although Takaichi has made history by becoming Japan’s first female prime minister, she is by no stretch of the imagination a feminist. She has long advocated for traditional gender roles and programs to help couples start families, and does not believe in same-sex marriage. She also reportedly does not believe that women should keep their maiden name after marrying.

Economic

Takaichi is not as fiscally conservative as her fellow party members and seems to support modern monetary theory, the theory that a government can simply print money as needed without being constrained by tax revenue or debt. She has called for much higher public spending in the defense sector, combined with tax cuts to stimulate growth. Her proposed economic policies are similar to those of the late Abe, who attempted to transform Japan’s stalling economy with more stimulus money and negative short-term interest rates that made it easier for consumers and companies to spend and borrow money.

China

Takaichi is considered a China hawk. As part of her agenda, she will likely attempt to achieve a longtime policy goal of staunch Japanese conservatives: an anti-espionage law that would presumably target Chinese Communist Party (CCP) spies working within the country. She has also advocated for more defense spending and re-militarization, revising Japan’s pacifist, post-WWII constitution, and has expressed support for a security partnership with Taiwan — what amounts to a slap in the face to the “One China” policy of the CCP. Her visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors the spirits of Japan’s dead soldiers, have sparked diplomatic protests in China and South Korea.

Immigration

Throughout her campaign, Takaichi has called for a crack down on illegal immigration and a ban on foreigners buying property in Japan. Her new cabinet official overseeing foreign nationals, Kim Onoda, has already vowed to tackle crimes committed by foreigners and illegal immigrants.

“Crimes and disruptive behavior by some foreign nationals, as well as inappropriate use of public systems, are causing anxiety and a sense of unfairness among Japanese citizens,” she said Wednesday at her first news conference. “I want to work in close coordination with relevant agencies and advance comprehensive discussions as a unified government on various issues, including strict measures against those who do not follow the rules and the revision of systems and policies that are currently inadequate for the present circumstances.”

Hiroshi Hiraguchi, Japan’s new justice minister, also revealed Wednesday that he and Onoda will be working together to “strengthen measures against illegal stayers” and “enforce strict immigration control.”