After weeks of anticipation, Japan today got its first female prime minister. Sanae Takaichi is leading both the Liberal Democratic Party, with a new coalition, and the country. It’s a remarkable development in a country that has struggled to advance women’s leadership in both politics and business; as of late 2024, Japan had just 13 female CEOs, fewer than 1% of listed companies on the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s prime market. Takaichi is the country’s 104th prime minister in its history, and the fourth in five years.

Takaichi grew up in Nara, in western Japan. She was first elected to parliament in 1993. The 64-year-old has served as minister of economic security and internal affairs.

But her ascension has set off a debate about what the impact will be for women in Japan. Takaichi is ultraconservative, and the coalition she just struck is expected to pull her bloc even further to the right.

Read more at: https://fortune.com/2025/10/21/sanae-takaichi-japan-first-female-prime-minister-conservative-margaret-thatcher/