Liberal Democratic Party President Sanae Takaichi made history Tuesday, becoming Japan’s first female prime minister after securing a decisive victory in a parliamentary vote.
Takaichi won 237 votes in the Lower House, defeating Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ) leader Yoshihiko Noda, who received 149 votes.
Her election was widely expected following a coalition agreement reached Monday between the LDP and the Japan Innovation Party (JIP), also known as Nippon Ishin no Kai.
The pact gave her bloc a near-majority in the 465-seat Lower House, with the LDP holding 196 seats and JIP 35 — just two short of the 233 needed for a majority, , according to Japan Times.
Takaichi, a veteran lawmaker with a 30-year career in the Lower House and past roles as minister of economic security and internal affairs, secured the LDP presidency earlier this month on her third attempt.
During her campaign, she pledged to increase the number of female lawmakers in key government positions — a promise many will be watching closely as she begins her historic tenure.
She immediately began preparations to form her Cabinet ahead of her formal swearing-in. While no JIP lawmakers are expected to take Cabinet posts, the party’s parliamentary affairs chief, Takashi Endo — a key figure in forging the coalition deal — is likely to be named an adviser to the prime minister.
Some of Takaichi’s former rivals in the LDP leadership race, including Yoshimasa Hayashi, Shinjiro Koizumi, and former Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, may be tapped for senior roles in the new administration.
Hayashi and Koizumi, who served as chief cabinet secretary and agriculture minister, respectively, resigned from outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s Cabinet Tuesday morning.
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Huma Nisar is Associate Editor at Views and News. She also writes opinion articles on health, society and diet.
