Sanae Takaichi Makes History: First Woman to Lead Japan’s Ruling Party and Serve as Prime Minister

On 21 October 2025, Sanae Takaichi was elected as Prime Minister of Japan by the National Diet, becoming the first woman in the country’s history to hold either the premiership or the presidency of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Her election followed her victory as LDP president on 4 October 2025, marking her as the first female leader of the party.
This landmark achievement arrives in a political landscape where Japan has long lagged in gender equality — and it signals important shifts both symbolically and materially