President Donald Trump celebrated the election of the right-wing Sanae Takaichi as the likely next prime minister of Japan.
Takaichi is set to become the first female prime minister of Japan after she won the presidency of the Liberal Democratic Party, which has ruled Japan almost uninterrupted since 1955. Feminists on the Left aren’t celebrating, however, as Takaichi has distinguished herself as a hard-line conservative.
“Japan has just elected its first female Prime Minister, a highly respected person of great wisdom and strength. This is tremendous news for the incredible people of Japan. Congratulations to all!” Trump wrote on Truth Social, signing his name at the end.
Trump’s congratulations are likely more than a simple nicety. Takaichi’s right-wing views are in line with those of her U.S. counterpart. She also boasts one of Trump’s best friends on the international stage as her mentor, the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Takaichi is also known for her hard-line views on China, a key priority that plays into Trump’s vision for the Indo-Pacific region. She’s also expressed her opposition to immigration to Japan, one of Trump’s central issues.
Some analysts have credited her victory as being part of a global conservative populist wave, the same current that brought Trump to power.
Japan’s so-called “one-and-a-half party system,” as it’s known by scholars, means that political changes are largely negotiated from within the LDP, with its liberal and conservative wings vying for dominance. Abe represented the conservative wing, while incumbent Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba represented the liberal wing. Takaichi’s victory represents a return to power of the conservative wing.
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Takaichi’s right-wing views have drawn controversy domestically and internationally, including her membership in the ultranationalist Nippon Kaigi, regular visits to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, and downplaying of some Japanese war crimes during World War II.
Takaichi was elected president of the LDP on Saturday, following Ishiba’s resignation due to poor election results in 2024 and 2025. She is set to be confirmed as prime minister on Oct. 15, and though opposition parties blocking her ascent is technically possible, most analysts dismiss the possibility.
