Politics Will we finally get a female Japanese PM?

FM Kamikawa Yoko, who recently faced sexist remarks, has garnered significant public support as a potential next prime minister. However, securing party backing within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) remains challenging. In polls assessing suitability, Kamikawa has outperformed party heavyweights, including Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and LDP Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi. A February survey by the Mainichi Shimbun placed Kamikawa in second place, trailing only former LDP Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba. Other surveys conducted by TV Asahi, Tokyo Broadcasting System Television, and Fuji News Network Inc. ranked her third, ahead of digital minister Taro Kono but behind Ishiba and former environment minister Shinjiro Koizumi. Notably, Ishiba, Koizumi, and Kono have historically dominated these polls, forming what is known as the "Koishikawa coalition." Kamikawa's rising popularity may be influenced by the recent factional slush fund scandal within the LDP, positioning her as a potential party renewal agent.

Ishiba, Koizumi and Kono had long dominated the top ranks of such polls in recent years. The three are known as the "Koishikawa coalition" after part of the kanji characters in each of their surnames. Some political observers saw the most recent polls as a sign that "a corner of the Koishikawa coalition has collapsed." Kamikawa's public popularity may have been pushed by the factional slush fund scandal that has rocked the LDP. She could "bring a sense of renewal for the LDP, now that it is branded as a failure," a senior LDP Upper House member said. Kamikawa, 70, is a seven-term Lower House member who belongs to the Kishida faction.

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"another"? Was there a female PM before?

Sadly, no. Corrected the thread topic.

According to a Mainichi survey asking people who would make the best next prime minister among eight candidates from the ruling party, only 1% would choose PM Kishida. Top-ranking was Ishiba Shigeru, a former secretary-general of the LDP.

Ishiba won 25% of respondents' support in the Feb. 17-18 poll, followed by Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa at 12%. Tied for third at 9% were Minister in charge of Economic Security Sanae Takaichi and former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi. Minister for Digital Transformation Taro Kono placed fifth at 7%, and former Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Seiko Noda came in sixth at 2%. Current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was in the cellar alongside LDP Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi, both at 1%. Meanwhile, 34% of respondents answered "none of the above." Ishiba, picked by some 30% of respondents in their 60s and above, tended to do well among seniors. Kamikawa, meanwhile, garnered a lot of support among women, and Takaichi among men.

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I am surprised to see Ms Takaichi and the young Koizumi ahead of Kono Taro.