Former economic security minister Takaitchi Sanae (高市早苗), 64, won the ruling Liberal Democratic Party leadership election. As the election effectively served as the stage to pick Japan's next prime minister, former economic security minister Takaitchi is set to become the LDP's first female leader and Japan's first female prime minister.
Takaitchi won 185 votes in the runoff for the 29th leadership election held on the 4th at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo. She defeated Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Koizumi Shinjiro, who received 156 votes, by a margin of 29. After topping the first round held earlier with 183 votes, she also won the runoff. Because Japan has a parliamentary cabinet system, the leader of the ruling party becomes prime minister.
Takaitchi is better known by nicknames such as "Taliban Takaitchi" and "female Abe." Born in 1961 in Yamato-Koriyama in northern Nara Prefecture, Takaitchi was raised by a mother who was a police officer and a father who worked at an automaker. Before entering politics, she worked as a caster at broadcasters including Fuji TV, and after winning a seat in the House of Representatives in 1993 as an independent, she joined the LDP in 1996.
Takaitchi was handpicked by former Prime Minister Abe. She is assessed as having closely resembled Abe, a hardline conservative, in political bent. Japanese media describe Takaitchi's political style as "uncompromising advance." As internal affairs and communications minister, she once said she "could suspend broadcasts" by raising issues with political neutrality in broadcasting. It is a representative example of her direct and forceful style.
With the election of hardline conservative Takaitchi, the outlook for Korea-Japan relations has become difficult to predict. She has continued to visit Yasukuni Shrine and has said that a "Minister-level official should be sent to the Takeshima (竹島) Day event." In her book "Protect Japan, make it strong and prosperous," she used the phrase "masochistic view of history" while addressing the issue of wartime comfort women.
On economic issues, she champions "Sanaenomics," which succeeds Abenomics. While serving as economic security minister in the Ishiba Cabinet, she produced concrete results such as passing a bill to prevent the outflow of core technologies. Sanaenomics puts economic security at the forefront and channels large amounts of fiscal resources into strategic industries such as semiconductors and defense. In currency and fiscal policy, she favors an accommodative stance. The focus is on reviving advanced technology sectors through bold money infusions.
As the person she respects most, she has cited Matsushita Konosuke, who built Matsushita Electric, the predecessor of Panasonic. Wanting to meet Matsushita in person, she entered the Matsushita Institute of Government and Management, a training institution for politicians, and that choice ultimately set her on the path to politics.
Her family consists only of her husband. They have no children. She married Yamamoto Taku (山本拓), 72, who served in the House of Representatives, divorced once, and then reportedly reunited. Her husband, Yamamoto, took Takaitchi's surname and changed his name to Takaitchi Taku.
Her favorite foods are strawberry shortcake, grilled chicken, and croquettes. Her hobbies are known to be scuba diving and playing musical instruments, and she is a fan of the Hanshin Tigers, a popular professional baseball team in the Kansai region centered on Osaka.