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.
Takaichi’s greatest obstacle remains securing the premiership.
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.
Read the full article in The Diplomat.
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