October 11, 2025
Japan’s Iron Lady: A Prime Minister for the Trump Era?
This article was originally published in The Diplomat.
A protégé of Abe Shinzo, newly elected Liberal Democratic Party President Takaichi Sanae inherits her mentor’s approach to social, economic, and foreign policy. Given U.S. President Donald Trump’s admiration for strong conservative leaders and his close affinity with Abe, Takaichi – Abe’s hand-picked successor – is ideally positioned to strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance. With Trump’s impending visit to Japan scheduled for October 27, the two leaders have a unique opportunity to build rapport and a more robust Indo-Pacific security architecture.
Aligned politically and ideologically with Trump, Takaichi champions tax cuts, stricter immigration controls, restrictions on foreign land ownership, and severe penalties for flag desecration – populist policies that closely mirror Trump’s. She has also openly criticized her own country’s central bank policies, pledging – in Trumpian terms – to “make Japan once again a vigorous land of the rising sun.” Their shared penchant for provocative, nationalist rhetoric and populist politics provide a foundation for a potentially productive working relationship.
Takaichi’s greatest obstacle remains securing the premiership.
Yet, Takaichi’s greatest obstacle remains securing the premiership. Despite winning the leadership race, the once-influential former Abe faction has weakened significantly, losing 40 percent of its members in just a year, forcing Takaichi to rely heavily on veteran politician and former Prime Minister Aso Taro. Her Cabinet selections reflect this dependence, with little room for past rivals.
Domestically, Takaichi faces increasingly challenging coalition dynamics after Komeito’s withdrawal from the ruling coalition, ending a 26-year partnership. This development will complicate her ability to govern effectively. Meanwhile, she must continue to defend her conservative credentials against pressure from the rising far-right Sanseito. Assuming she is able to secure the premiership in the upcoming Diet vote, urgent economic issues – particularly inflation and rising living costs – may initially constrain her ability to focus on foreign policy.
Read the full article in The Diplomat.
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