Japan’s lower house of parliament on Tuesday elected Sanae Takaichi, chief of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), as the country’s first woman prime minister, a landmark in the nation’s political history.
The 64-year-old leader secured 237 of 465 votes in the Lower House, defeating Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ), who received 149 votes.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended congratulations to Sanae Takaichi. PM Modi emphasized that the ever-strengthening partnership between India and Japan plays a vital role in ensuring peace, stability, and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
In a post on X, PM Modi said, “Heartiest congratulations, Sanae Takaichi, on your election as the Prime Minister of Japan. I look forward to working closely with you to further strengthen the India–Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership. Our deepening ties are vital for peace, stability, and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific and beyond.”
In her address to LDP members following her election, she said, “I will keep my promises. We can only rebuild by reuniting every generation and through everyone’s participation,” she said. “Because there are only a few of us, I ask everybody to work – work like a horse. I myself will cast aside the idea of ‘work-life balance.’ I’ll work, work, work, work, and work.”
Takaichi, a former heavy metal drummer, became leader of the long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on October 4. Six days later, the Komeito party—citing discomfort with her conservative views and the LDP’s slush fund scandal—exited the coalition.
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The coalition split pushed Takaichi to secure support from the reformist, right-leaning Japan Innovation Party (JIP). The LDP–JIP alliance was signed on Monday evening. JIP backs a slate of changes, including scrapping the consumption tax on food, banning corporate and organizational donations, and reducing the number of MPs.
