Japan Watch Thread

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Japan’s prime minister resigns after his party suffered a historic defeat in a summer election

https://apnews.com/article/japan-ishiba ... 163b4cda2f

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Sigh.

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Sanae Takaichi makes history as Japan's first female prime minister

26 minutes ago

Sanae Takaichi has been elected Japan's prime minister by parliament, making her the first woman to hold the office.

The 64-year-old won a clear majority on Monday - 237 votes in the powerful Lower House and another 125 in the Upper House - as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

A staunch conservative and admirer of the late former British PM Margaret Thatcher, Takaichi takes over at a challenging economic moment as Japan grapples with rising cost-of-living and a frustrated public.

It's also been an uncertain time for the world's fourth-largest economy. She is the fourth PM in just five years, after her predecessors' terms were cut short by plunging ratings and scandals.

Although she defeated four men to win the LDP race in early October, her path to the top job appeared to be blocked when the LDP's long-time coalition partner, the Komeito party, withdrew support.

But a last-minute deal on Monday night with another opposition party saved her. She and the LDP will face voters next in 2028.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c751z23n3n7o

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Japan’s Rock Star Leader Now Has the Political Backing to Push a Bold Agenda. Will She Deliver?
By Keisuke Hosojima
February 8, 2026

Introduction:

(The Conversation) Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has delivered her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) a landslide victory in the parliamentary elections she called shortly after taking office.

Now that she has consolidated her power in Japan’s legislature (called the Diet), the big question is what she will do with it.

Since her ascent to the prime ministership in a parliamentary vote in October, the ultra conservative Takaichi has upended the normally staid Japanese political system.

Read more here: https://theconversation.com/japans-roc ... er-274015

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