💥 10 Things to Know About Sanae Takaichi: Japan's First Female Prime Minister

💥 10 Things to Know About Sanae Takaichi: Japan's First Female Prime Minister

November 18, 2025
Share Post E-mail

💥 10 Things to Know About Sanae Takaichi: Japan's First Female Prime Minister

The ascension of Sanae Takaichi to Japan's highest office is a historic moment that conservative and populist circles worldwide are celebrating. Known as Japan's "Iron Lady" and the protégé of the late Shinzo Abe, she is a leader of fierce conviction. Here are 10 essential facts you should know about the woman setting a new, assertive course for the nation.

🌸 Celebrate Japan's Iron Lady

Honor Sanae Takaichi's historic leadership with our exclusive vintage anime-style collection featuring traditional Japanese dragon motifs.

Sanae Takaichi T-Shirt
Sanae Takaichi Shoes

Shop Shirt →Shop Shoes →

1. 🇯🇵

She is Japan's First Female Prime Minister—But Not a Traditional Feminist

Takaichi made history by being the first woman elected to the nation's top post. However, she is an ultraconservative who opposes policies often associated with progressive feminism, such as same-sex marriage and allowing married couples to use separate surnames. She views herself as a standard-bearer for traditional values, not a gender pioneer in the typical sense.

2. 🐉

She is the Spiritual Successor to Shinzo Abe

Takaichi was one of the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's most devoted allies and long-serving cabinet ministers. She explicitly campaigns as the carrier of his legacy, including his push for constitutional reform and his pro-growth economic strategy, often dubbed "Sanaenomics" or "New Abenomics."

🎌 Use code BUY2SAVE15 for 15% off when you buy 2+ items! 🎌
3. 🇺🇸

She Forged a "Golden Age" Alliance with Donald Trump

In a crucial early test of her diplomatic prowess, Takaichi held a successful summit with President Donald Trump. Their meeting solidified a strategic, like-minded alliance, with Takaichi signaling her intent to work closely on security issues and pledging a "new golden age" for U.S.-Japan relations.

4. 🏍️

She's a Heavy Metal Loving Car Enthusiast

Takaichi has an unexpectedly "awesome" background. In her youth, she was a drummer in a heavy metal band and owned a Kawasaki Z400GP motorcycle. This unconventional streak is often pointed to as evidence of her powerful, non-conformist personality.

5. 🛠️

Her Most Famous Possession is a Classic Toyota Supra

Speaking of cars, Takaichi drove the same 1991 Toyota Supra 2.5GT Twin-Turbo Limited for 22 years while campaigning and serving in government. After she stored it for a decade, it was the subject of a massive restoration project by her local dealer. The car is now proudly displayed in a museum in her home prefecture, Nara.

👟 Complete Your Takaichi Collection

Step into leadership with our premium Sanae Takaichi footwear—available for both men and women.

6. 🛑

She Vows an "Unyielding Crackdown" on Foreign Lawbreakers

Takaichi has taken a strong stance on maintaining national order and has capitalized on anti-immigrant sentiment. She has publicly called for tighter immigration restrictions and an unyielding crackdown on visa overstays, rule-breaking, and disruption of native communities by foreigners, emphasizing that all newcomers must strictly obey Japanese law.

7. 📜

She Demands Constitutional Revision for the Military

A core policy is her strong advocacy for revising Article 9 of Japan's pacifist Constitution to formally recognize and strengthen the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) as a legitimate national military. This hawkish stance is aimed at increasing Japan's defense capabilities amid rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific.

8. 👩🎓

She Paid Her Own Way Through University

Unlike many political leaders in Japan who come from powerful dynastic families, Takaichi was raised by a father who worked for an auto firm and a mother who was a police officer. She did not attend an elite private university, instead choosing to work part-time and commute for six hours a day to pay her way through Kobe University—a populist origin story.

9. 💰

Her Economic Plan Focuses on National Security Investment

Her economic strategy, "Sanaenomics," is centered on proactive government spending and bold investment in critical, strategic sectors. These include artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, nuclear fusion, and defense—policies aimed at securing Japan's economic sovereignty against geopolitical risks.

10. 👧

She Is Seen as an Inspiration for Right-Wing Girls

While her policies are not aimed at typical gender equality goals, her breaking of the political glass ceiling by defeating entrenched male leadership is a powerful symbol. It shows young women with conservative or traditional values that they can reach the highest office without abandoning their core ideological beliefs.

📺 Watch: Japan's First Woman PM

You can watch a video about her life and rise to power here: Japan's First Woman PM: Sanae Takaichi's Plans for Economy & Defence. This video discusses her hardline conservative policies and historic election as Japan's first female Prime Minister.

🌸 Honor the Iron Lady 🌸

Celebrate Sanae Takaichi's legacy with our exclusive collection

Takaichi ShirtMens ShoesWomens Shoes

Use Code: BUY2SAVE15

Shop all three products and save 15%!

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.