Japan has a new leader — and for the first time in her nation’s long postwar history, a woman will head the government. On October 21, 2025, lawmakers in the Diet elected Sanae Takaichi as Japan’s prime minister, a milestone that shatters a glass ceiling while promising a return to common-sense, patriotic governance.
Don’t be misled by the left’s celebration of the “first woman” narrative; Takaichi is no soft-progressive. A protégé of the late Shinzo Abe and a hardline conservative, she has long championed stronger defenses, constitutional revision, and a foreign policy that puts Japan’s national interest first — exactly the kind of backbone this region needs.
Her rise wasn’t without political drama: the ruling Liberal Democratic Party lost its longtime partner, forcing Takaichi to strike a last-minute coalition with the Japan Innovation Party to secure a working majority. That deal shows she knows how to win votes and build pragmatic alliances when the future of the nation is on the line, even if pundits whine about instability.
Crucially for Americans, Takaichi is expected to move Japan closer to the United States on security and trade, and reports already point to high-level talks with President Trump. A stronger security posture in Tokyo and cooperative, fair trade arrangements — not kowtowing to Beijing — will protect both our interests and those of our most important Pacific ally.
Expect Takaichi to prioritize sovereignty over woke vanity projects. She’s unapologetic about visits to national memorials, opposes radical social re-engineering like same-sex marriage mandates or forced surname changes, and supports measures that keep Japan safe from Chinese aggression — policies conservatives should respect and applaud.
This moment matters to every patriot who believes in strong alliances and secure borders. Hardworking Americans should welcome a Japan that stands tall, invests in its defenses, and partners with the United States to check authoritarian powers — because a free, prosperous Japan strengthens the free world.
