Sane Takaichi made history as the first female Prime Minister of Japan

Sane Takaichi has been elected by parliament as the Prime Minister of Japan, becoming the first woman to hold that position.

As leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), the 64-year-old won a clear majority on Monday – 237 votes in the powerful lower house and another 125 in the upper house.

A staunch conservative and admirer of the late former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, Takaichi took office at a challenging economic moment as Japan grapples with rising living costs and a frustrated public.

It is also an uncertain time for the world’s fourth largest economy. She is the fourth prime minister in just five years after declining ratings and scandals undermined the terms of her predecessors.

Although she defeated four others to win the LDP race in early October, her path to higher office appeared to be blocked when the LDP’s long-time coalition partner, Kometo, withdrew its support.

But a last-minute deal on Monday night with another opposition party – the right-leaning Japan Innovation Party (JIP), known as Isshin – saved her. In 2028, she and the LDP will face the electorate.

Meanwhile, domestic challenges aside, she faces difficult relationships abroad. South Korea, which has begun to mend historically fragile relations with Japan, is wary of its right-wing politics, which lean nationalist. And, like some of her predecessors, including the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, she is seen as a hawk when it comes to an increasingly powerful China.

But the most important ties are with the US, and a test is around the corner – next week’s meeting with US President Donald Trump.

While the two sides have reached a tariff deal, Trump’s past comments have questioned the value of a security pact between them and demand that Tokyo pay more for defense — something Takaichi must navigate with an unpredictable US administration.

At age 64, Takaichi is no stranger to Japanese politics.

A known ally of Abe, she has held several ministerial posts during her career and has previously run for prime minister.

He was elected LDP leader after former prime minister and LDP leader Shigeru Ishiba resigned following a landslide defeat in the midterm elections.

Nicknamed the “Iron Lady” in admiration of Thatcher, Takaichi is known for her conservative views, including her opposition to same-sex marriage and her growing demand to allow married women to keep their maiden surnames.

This has led some young women to question the significance of her victory.

“Everyone thinks, ‘Wow, she’s the first female prime minister in Japan’s history and it’s a great opportunity for women’s empowerment,'” said 21-year-old student Aida Ogura.

“(But) if you think about her political beliefs and what she stands for, some things are very traditional. Instead of bringing about structural change, she perpetuates the patriarchal system.”

During her recent campaign, she proposed expanded hospital services for women’s health and greater recognition of domestic help workers.

She still has a big task ahead of her – to rebuild public confidence in the LDP.

The party has ruled Japan for the past seven decades, but lost its majority in the lower house for the first time in 15 years under Ishiba. It later lost its majority in the upper house in July amid public outrage following a fundraising scandal.

In electing Takai, the LDP hoped to win back conservative voters, many of whom had been drawn to the far-right Sansetto after disillusionment with the usual options.

But first Takaichi has to turn her attention to public outrage as prices continue to rise. For example, ongoing rice shortages have pushed prices of the Japanese staple to record highs.

Local media are reporting that she may appoint Satsuki Katayama as finance minister, another historic first for a woman. Like Takaichi, Katayama is also Abe’s protégé.

While worries about Japan’s mounting debt and sluggish growth have weighed on investors, her win gave markets some optimism.