Japan’s parliament on Tuesday elected ultraconservative Sanae Takaichi as the country’s first female prime minister, who emphasized bolstering Japan’s defense capabilities as she prepares to host President Trump next week.
Takaichi replaces Shigeru Ishiba following a string of setbacks for the long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which lost its majority in the lower house last year and suffered heavy losses in July’s upper house elections. Her election comes after the LDP formed a fragile coalition with a new partner expected to pull the governing bloc further right.
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Japan intends to strengthen its defense posture in response to evolving regional threats. “We are firmly preparing for President Trump’s visit,” Motegi said, noting that talks during Trump’s Oct. 27–29 Tokyo trip will focus on deepening the Japan-U.S. alliance and reinforcing personal trust between the leaders.
Motegi, returning to the post for the second time after serving during Trump’s first term, also highlighted Japan’s commitment to cooperation with regional partners including South Korea, Australia, and the Philippines, while maintaining stable relations with China. He added that he hopes to meet Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss further strengthening the Japan-U.S. deterrence and response capabilities, and to continue implementing the Japan-U.S. tariff agreement.
Takaichi, elected head of the LDP on Oct. 4 after Ishiba resigned over election losses, described the Japan-U.S. alliance as a “cornerstone” of Japanese diplomacy.
While making history as Japan’s first female leader, Takaichi has not championed gender equality. She supports male-only succession for the imperial family, opposes allowing separate surnames for married couples, and does not support same-sex marriages.
