Sanae Takaichi Elected LDP Leader, Set to Become Japan’s First Female Prime Minister

Tokyo, Oct 2025 : In a historic development, Japan’s former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi has been elected as the leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), paving the way for her to become the country’s first female Prime Minister on October 15.

Takaichi secured victory in a runoff election on Saturday, defeating Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi. She received 185 votes to Koizumi’s 156, after none of the five candidates in the race managed to secure a majority in the initial round of voting.

According to The Japan Times, Takaichi led the first round with 183 votes—64 from LDP lawmakers and 119 from rank-and-file members—while Koizumi followed with 164 votes (80 from lawmakers and 84 from members).

The election was triggered by the resignation of LDP President Shigeru Ishiba last month, prompting a closely contested battle for party leadership. In total, 590 votes were cast—295 from lawmakers and 295 allocated proportionally to grassroots members and registered supporters.

The five candidates competing for the post included Takaichi, Koizumi, former LDP Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, and Takayuki Kobayashi. Interestingly, all five had also contested in last year’s election, which drew a record nine contenders.

The campaign centered on urgent national concerns: cooperation with opposition parties, measures to combat rising prices, and efforts to rebuild public trust in the LDP following political funding scandals and back-to-back election losses.

Japan is grappling with years of sluggish economic growth, inflationary pressures, and a steep depreciation of the yen, which have strained households and businesses alike. The LDP’s electoral setbacks have also raised questions about its long-standing dominance, once considered unshakable in Japanese politics.

Takaichi now faces the formidable task of holding together a divided party, managing minority rule, and persuading a skeptical public that the LDP remains capable of delivering stability and effective governance.

Her election marks a breakthrough moment in Japanese politics, as she prepares to shatter a long-standing glass ceiling by becoming Japan’s first woman to assume the office of Prime Minister.