Politics The Takaichi Sanae Thread - Japan's first female Prime Minister

[thomas]

A few reactions from the international press:

Japan election: Japanese stocks surge to record high as PM Sanae Takaichi wins landslide election victory

Sanae Takaichi's ruling Liberal Democratic Party and coalition partner Japan Innovation Party have swept the majority of seats in Japan's lower house.

www.bbc.com

Japanese shares hit record high as Sanae Takaichi wins landslide election victory

Prime minister’s Liberal Democratic party to be pressed on promised tax cuts and fiscal stimulus plans

www.theguardian.com

CNBC Daily Open: Takaichi's victory sends Japan's Nikkei 225 to new highs

Japan's Sanae Takaichi and her ruling Liberal Democratic Party overwhelmingly found the support of voters in a Sunday election, sweeping a supermajority.

www.cnbc.com

Gift article courtesy of JREF:

Japan’s Leader Wins in a Landslide, Clearing Way for Hard-Line Agenda

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi won a sweeping mandate from voters for her economic agenda and tough stances on immigration and China.

www.nytimes.com

 

[thomas]

Hello corruption, farewell qualms: 41 out of 43 LDP lawmakers tied to the slush-fund scandal win election bids.

Forty-one Liberal Democratic Party candidates caught up in a political funds scandal won Lower House seats in the Feb. 8 election, seemingly buoyed by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's high approval rating. The LDP endorsed a total of 43 candidates with ties to the scandal, in which lawmakers accumulated large sums from fund-raising parties that were not reported. Of these lawmakers who were part of the faction led by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, which was at the center of the money scandal, 38 ran in single-seat constituencies. While the majority ran concurrent campaigns, five ran exclusively in the proportional representation segment. Twenty-four of the 41 lawmakers elected had either lost or not run in the previous election. Sugita Mio (Osaka 5) and Kano Yōnosuke (Osaka 10) were not re-elected.

Says the PM: "Although they failed to report certain funds in their political funds reports in the past, I want the lawmakers who have been given the opportunity to work to devote themselves fully to serving the public."

41 of 43 LDP lawmakers tied to money scandal win election bids | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

 

[musicisgood]

Trump's stuck his oar in. I wonder what he wants in return.

Trump endorses Takaichi before election; announces her March 19 visit

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday gave his full endorsement to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi ahead of the country's general election and said he would welcome her to the White House on March 19. While Trump is often an outlier, it is very rare for the leader of any…

japantoday.com

I heard they are going to move some troupes out of Okinawa . So, maybe that was it.

 

[Ukigumo]

 

[thomas]

Asahi looked at the new semantics of PM Takaichi, who started referring to her second administration as the "Takaichi Cabinet" (高市内閣 Takaichi naikaku).

In her policy speech on Feb. 20, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi spoke of "the Takaichi Cabinet" seven times, including these two instances: "This is Japan as envisioned by the Takaichi Cabinet" and "This is the Takaichi Cabinet's consistent policy." Looking back to four months ago, when she was forced to lead a minority ruling party, I recall her saying "this Cabinet," but never "the Takaichi Cabinet." It appears that the Cabinet has become personified, so to speak, now that Takaichi's once-minority ruling party has morphed into a mega-majority party. Takaichi used her full name when she announced the dissolution of the Lower House last month, asking the public, "Is it appropriate for Sanae Takaichi to be the prime minister?" After winning the election with a historic landslide, she declared the launch of "the Takaichi Cabinet 2.0" during the news conference at the start of the second Takaichi administration.

VOX POPULI: Has Takaichi 'personified' the Cabinet with her brand name? | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

 

[thomas]

It also looks as if the PM will not waste much of her time answering the pestering opposition's questions. Taken from Tobias Harris:

Concretely, the new general secretary of the opposition CRA, Ogawa Junya

• Questioned the prime minister's commitment to fiscal discipline amid rising inflation and falling real household incomes.
• Criticised her move to shift the debate on a consumption tax cut to a national social security conference, suggesting she may be deflecting responsibility.
• Pressed for clarity on the three non-nuclear principles and arms export restrictions.
• Asked whether she would dismiss an official who said Japan should possess nuclear weapons.
• Sought assurances she would raise concerns about the international rule of law in talks with Donald Trump.
• Asked if she would reaffirm the foundational agreements in Japan–China relations.
• Demanded specifics on planned defence spending increases and how they would be financed.
• Questioned how intelligence reforms and counter-espionage laws would safeguard individual rights.
• Urged a practical, restrained approach to constitutional revision and asked her to state her intentions clearly.
• Raised concerns about corporate political donations, political reform, links to the Unification Church, slush fund scandals, and her deletion of past website writings.
• Contrasted her vision of a "strong and prosperous Japan" with his party's goal of a competitive welfare state built on fiscal responsibility, a solid safety net and a strong technology base.

None of his questions was clearly answered.

Takaichi brushes off opposition questions | Japan Daily Briefing

But trade challenges from US and China are harder to ignore

observingjapan.substack.com

 

[thomas]

Three interesting articles on Japan's shifting role under Takaichi:

Japan's postwar policy of military restraint may be entering a new phase after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's landslide election victory.
Long reliant on the U.S. security umbrella, Japan is reassessing its stance as China grows more assertive and regional risks mount. Successive governments have already expanded defence capabilities, and Takaichi now appears positioned to push further, including possible constitutional revision. The shift signals a Japan that could take a more active military role in regional security, though how that transition is managed will shape stability across East Asia.

Gift article:

Opinion | Sanae Takaichi’s Rise Changes the Game for China

Sanae Takaichi’s political rise presages a stronger Japan that could reshape the strategic balance in Asia and help deter Chinese aggression.

www.nytimes.com

The New Left Review expounds on the three pillars of the Takaichi Cabinet:

1. Relatability and personal appeal: She presents herself as a political outsider and accessible leader — emphasising her ordinary background, media presence and direct communication style to reconnect the LDP with voters, especially younger and unaffiliated ones.
2. Resolve and a hard-line security stance Takaichi promotes stronger defence, a tougher position toward China, stricter immigration controls and a willingness to revise constitutional constraints on Japan's military role.
3. Competent economic leadership She stresses economic management and stability through expansionary fiscal and monetary policy ("Sanaenomics"), cost-of-living relief and investment in high-tech industries, aiming to reassure voters concerned about wages, inflation and growth.

Elena Korshenko, Takaichi Whirlwind — Sidecar

Elections in Japan.

newleftreview.org

Foreign Affairs sheds light on Japan's national security reckoning in a guest article by Okano Masataka, former National Security Adviser and Vice Foreign Minister of Japan.

Japan’s National Security Reckoning

How Tokyo is adjusting to a more dangerous world.

www.foreignaffairs.com

 

[thomas]

No kidding: PM Takaichi night stands.

『ゆっくりおやすみなっし（おやすみなさい）。あんたが寝てる間も日本は私が守っとくから』

​

 

[mdchachi]

No kidding: PM Takaichi night stands.

『ゆっくりおやすみなっし（おやすみなさい）。あんたが寝てる間も日本は私が守っとくから』

​

Oh nice. I'd grab one as a souvenir. How much are they?

 

[Achilles 1-1]

"I'll be protecting Japan as you sleep."

What an Anime character protagonist thing to say. Maybe she'll whip out the KAMEHAMEHA!

 

[Lothor]

An article in Japan Today about Sanae Takaichi's lack of sleep.

Takaichi tells politician she needs more sleep, has trouble managing meals

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi complained she was not getting enough sleep, a veteran politician who met her Thursday said. The remark came as Takaichi's premiership recently reached the six-month mark. After winning her ruling party's leadership election in October, putting her on...

japantoday.com

The second part of the article I find a bit bizarre:

She told a parliamentary committee meeting in early April that her sleep time is "quite short as I'm tied up with housework" and "the rest of the time is spent doing work."

...

In February, she said of food, "I'm not permitted to go shopping or order takeout from the official residence. If I run out of frozen food, that's the end."

Amari told reporters after their meeting that Takaichi also spoke about difficulties managing meals.

Shouldn't someone doing as important a job as the Japanese prime minister have someone to take care of mundane domestic things, like housework and shopping for food? It would seem like a good use of state money to provide such assistance to a PM.

 

[mdchachi]

Shouldn't someone doing as important a job as the Japanese prime minister have someone to take care of mundane domestic things, like housework and shopping for food? It would seem like a good use of state money to provide such assistance to a PM.

Sounds like the system assumes there will be a spouse or consort to do this stuff.

 

[Lothor]

Sounds like the system assumes there will be a spouse or consort to do this stuff.

Sounds like it. Takaichi's husband is in poor health, and his right side is paralysed. She should be getting some state-funded domestic support to make sure the freezer is stocked and sandwiches are available for working lunches.

Taku Yamamoto - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[thomas]

The Prime Minister's Official Residence employs hundreds of staff members, including administrative and domestic support staff and government-employed cooks. Mrs Takaichi will not have to go shopping after a busy work day. Also, medical staff are present on the premises.

内閣総理大臣官邸 - Wikipedia

ja.wikipedia.org

 

[Lothor]

The Prime Minister's Official Residence employs hundreds of staff members, including administrative and domestic support staff and government-employed cooks. Mrs Takaichi will not have to go shopping after a busy work day. Also, medical staff are present on the premises.

内閣総理大臣官邸 - Wikipedia

ja.wikipedia.org

So, she was bull****ing and angling for pity in her interview. I might have guessed.

 

[thomas]

I guess it serves her self-sacrificing "hataraite" narrative, along with her habit of summoning staff members for meetings at 3 a.m.

 

[mdchachi]

It does seem to be a sketchy narrative. Why the h*ll can't she order takeout? They can't deliver to the security guard?

 

[thomas]

A refreshing look at our first female PM: tired of relentless "Sana-katsu" (サナ活, the constant buzz around Sanae), several writers explained why they have had enough of it.

Many in Japan suffering 'Takaichi blues' over PM's controversial policies - The Mainichi

TOKYO -- Japan's first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, has maintained high Cabinet approval ratings and even inspired the buzzword

mainichi.jp

Is Japanese society on the brink of polarisation, too?

In a nationwide opinion poll conducted by the Mainichi Shimbun in mid-April, the Cabinet approval ratings came to 53%. At the same time, protests criticizing the administration have become more active. One woman, 82, said, "Takaichi's smile looks like it has something hidden behind it. Anxiety is spreading among people around me." The stark difference in how people perceive Takaichi, depending on whether they support or oppose her, is striking.

 

[Lothor]

'Takaichi seems to have nothing but constitutional revision and preparations for war on her mind. There is not a single element that would improve people's lives. She probably wants to deepen confrontation with China to expand defense spending and funnel profits to the arms industry, but this is gravely damaging Japan's national interests.'

That was Abe's approach to being PM, and Takaichi was his most enthusiastic protégé. What did people expect when they voted her in?

 

[Lothor]

I honestly cannot see any downside to a resource-poor country asking its citizens to be mindful of their energy use during a Middle East war in which oil facilities are targets. It seems that Takaichi does.

Takaichi opposes urging public to save energy amid Middle East crisis

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Monday took a negative stance on urging the Japanese public to limit energy usage amid supply uncertainties due to the war in the Middle East, saying economic activity should not be stopped. Her comments in parliament came as the effective closure of the Strait of…

japantoday.com

 

[mdchachi]

I honestly cannot see any downside to a resource-poor country asking its citizens to be mindful of their energy use during a Middle East war in which oil facilities are targets. It seems that Takaichi does.

Takaichi opposes urging public to save energy amid Middle East crisis

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Monday took a negative stance on urging the Japanese public to limit energy usage amid supply uncertainties due to the war in the Middle East, saying economic activity should not be stopped. Her comments in parliament came as the effective closure of the Strait of…

japantoday.com

True but when your wife complains about running the shower too long or leaving lights on you can point to this statement to back you up.

 

[thomas]

Just yesterday, Japan received its first shipment of Alaskan oil. Surely, there's no need to worry. Keep your A/C running.

Tanker carrying US oil arrives in Japan for 1st time since Iran war - The Mainichi

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- A tanker carrying U.S. oil arrived in Japan on Sunday, marking the first such shipment from the United States since the Iran war bega

mainichi.jp

 

[thomas]

Nikkei's headline sounds more dramatic than it is. Not much of a slippage.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government registered an approval rating of 69% in a late-April survey by Nikkei and TV Tokyo, down 3 percentage points from the March poll. April surveys by major Japanese news organizations had divergent results, with support for Takaichi rising in some but falling in others.

The Nikkei poll also found that a majority of respondents oppose increasing Japanese exports of lethal weapons such as fighter jets and destroyers, even after the government eased long-standing export restrictions this month. Opposition was especially strong among unaffiliated voters and women, while opinion among LDP supporters was more evenly divided. The findings reflect a March poll that also showed the public split, with slightly more opposed than in favour.

Paywall alert:

Takaichi's approval rating slips as glow from US-Japan summit fades

Nikkei poll shows majority oppose stepping up arms exports

asia.nikkei.com

 

[thomas]

PM Takaichi is facing growing pressure over allegations that people connected to her campaign distributed online videos attacking rival LDP candidates during the February House of Representatives election. Opposition parties have stepped up questioning in the Diet and are demanding further explanations from the government. The controversy began after Weekly Bunshun reported that individuals linked to Takaichi's campaign had circulated videos targeting political opponents on social media. Critics said such activity could influence voter behaviour and undermine the fairness of elections.

​

Takaichi's camp denied the allegations last month. The prime minister said neither she nor her secretaries had any prior connection with the man accused of producing the videos and added that she trusted her staff. The issue resurfaced after the magazine reported the existence of audio recordings allegedly capturing online conversations between one of Takaichi's publicly funded secretaries and the man said to have created the videos. The report prompted renewed questioning during a meeting of the Diet's Budget Committee.

During questioning on June 4th, opposition lawmakers asked whether the voice heard in the recordings belonged to the secretary in question. Takaichi responded that she had been unable to verify the report immediately because it was available only to paid subscribers and she had first seen the questions in the early hours of the morning. After reviewing the recordings on the night of June 4th, Takaichi told lawmakers on June 5th that she still could not determine whether the voice belonged to her secretary. [...] She added that the voice in the recording sounded noticeably different from the secretary's normal speaking style.

According to Takaichi, when she asked the secretary to listen to the recording, the secretary questioned why they should have to pay for a subscription to access the material and reportedly expressed anger over what they regarded as a one-sided report. Takaichi again denied that she or her staff engage in personal attacks against political opponents and rejected calls for a wider investigation, saying the allegations were not backed by credible evidence. Some political commentators have noted that if the claims are false, both the prime minister and the secretary could potentially pursue legal action to protect their reputations. Others have argued that an independent voice analysis of the recording could help clarify the situation and provide voters with a more convincing explanation.

Controversy Erupts Over Prime Minister Takaichi’s Alleged Smear Video

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi

newsonjapan.com

Japan PM declines to confirm alleged smear video audio, irking opposition - The Mainichi

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Thursday declined an opposition lawmaker's request to listen to audio relating to reports alleging h

mainichi.jp

 

[thomas]

While smear videos are nothing new in political campaigns, it's the first time that a Japanese PM is implicated - although she denies any involvement of her office.

After Kyodo News reported that Matsui Ken, head of an IT firm, told the news agency that he had communicated with a member of Takaichi's staff about making negative videos using generative AI to attack Koizumi Shinjirō during the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election in 2025. Kyodo confirmed that the cell phone number with which Matsui communicated did in fact belong to one of Takaichi's secretaries. In a press conference on Monday, 8 June, Takaichi denied the report, saying her office "would never do such a thing or rely on third party to do it," adding that smearing her opponents is "not [her] style." LDP Secretary-General Suzuki Shunichi said that the opposition's calls to the summon witnesses for parliamentary questioning is unnecessary, but the prime minister's denials have not silenced questioning and with mainstream outlets now covering the issue, the questions about her staff's involvement — and the degree of her awareness — will continue.

A scandal in full? | Japan Daily Briefing

Questions about involvement by Takaichi's staff in creating and spreading defamatory videos are not going away

observingjapan.substack.com

Matsui, who was also the developer of Sanae Token, a meme coin named after the prime minister, said the videos not only targeted Koizumi but another leadership rival, then Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi who was emerging as another leading contender. Hayashi is now the internal affairs and communications minister in Takaichi's Cabinet. Matsui said he used some original generative artificial intelligence software to create 1,000 to 1,500 short videos on Koizumi and Hayashi. Around 300 social media accounts were then created on which the videos were shared. He added he instructed the AI not to use expressions that would be slanderous and produced the content free of charge. He also said he does not think his actions violated the law.

Man admits creating videos critical of Japan PM rivals in LDP election

The head of an IT firm has said that he created videos criticizing rivals of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in last year's ruling Liberal Democratic Party presidential race, after being asked by one of her aides to help her win the election.

english.kyodonews.net