Sanae Takaichi

About

Japanese politician and world leader known for becoming Japan's first female prime minister, for serving multiple times as Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications and as Minister of State for Economic Security, for being a longtime member of the Liberal Democratic Party, and for being elected repeatedly to Japan's House of Representatives. She is also known for making history by becoming the first woman backed by a major LDP faction to run for party president.

Before fame

She grew up in Nara in a working-class household. She attended Kobe University and commuted long distances to save money after her parents discouraged her from leaving home for school. She graduated with a degree in business administration in 1984. She studied at the Matsushita Institute of Government and Management after college. She worked as a TV commentator and writer before entering politics. She won her first election to the Japanese Diet in 1993. She continued to serve for decades in the House of Representatives. She was elected prime minister in October 2025.

Trivia

She played drums in a heavy metal band while in university before she considered pursuing politics. She is a fan of heavy metal and Japanese rock, rides motorcycles, and follows JRA horse racing. She is known for advocating constitutional reform, strong defense policy, and economic stimulus programs inspired by "Abenomics."

Family life

She married politician Taku Yamamoto in 2004. They divorced in 2017 but then remarried in 2021. She adopted Yamamoto's three children from his previous marriage and is now a stepmother and grandmother to four grandchildren through her stepchildren.

Associated with

She was a close political ally of Shinzo Abe. She has served in the cabinet of Fumio Kishida. She considers Margaret Thatcher as an inspiration to her political career.