In October of this year, Japan elected its first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi. She is known for her conservative views on Japan and her love for heavy metal music and avid love for motorcycle riding.
This is an achievement in Japan, as they are not known for having an abundance of gender equality. Japan is seen as the country with the lowest among democratic countries and developed democracies.
Takaichi, 64 years old, represented Nara Prefecture in Japan and was elected to lead the conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Over her rival, Yashihiko Noda, who is the leader of the liberal opposition Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP). With the win from Takaichi with lawmakers in parliament’s lower house vote of 237- 149, and lawmakers from the upper house in a second vote of 125 – 46, after falling short of one vote in the first round.
After being elected, Takaichi had added two other women to her cabinet, similar to former British Prime Minister Margaret Thrasher. One of whom was Satsuki Katayama, Japan’s first female finance minister.
In a news conference, Takaichi had spoken of her cabinet and role while in office by saying, “I place great importance on equal opportunity, equal chances. And also participation from people from all walks of life,” and “I formed my Cabinet with this idea in mind, bringing together the combined strength of all generations.”
However, Jeff Kingston, a professor of Asian studies and history at Temple University’s Japan campus, had told NBC News that though this moment is historic for women in Japan, it’s going to be hard to keep the idea of women’s empowerment for long after Takaichi’s poor record on discussing the idea.
With critics pointing out that the heavy alliance with the Osaka-based party, her cabinet will more than likely move heavily towards the right.
She believes in the opposition to same-sex marriage and in favor of keeping succession to men only in Japan after the shrinking of the Imperial family. Also, she opposes women keeping their maiden name in a marriage, and would want to make the process difficult for future marriages.
Although it seems to be ironic, as Takaichi herself had kept her maiden name and her own husband had changed his last name to hers.
Regardless of the fact, Takaichi’s strict views came from her time after working as a protege and minister of economic security, internal affairs, and gender equality in former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s cabinet. As she herself has advocated tougher patrols within immigration restrictions, embraced hawkish policies towards China, revisions of their constitution, and higher defense spending.
Even as strong-willed as Takaichi is, she is committed to the job as she said in her victory speech, “I myself will throw out the term ‘work-life balance, and I will work and work and work and work and work.”