From TV anchor to national leader: Sanae Takaichi elected Japan's first female PM

Tokiyo (Web Desk): Sanae Takaichi has made history by becoming Japan’s first-ever female prime minister.

According to international media reports, she secured 237 votes out of 465 in the Japanese parliament, surpassing the required majority of 233 to claim the country’s top political office.

Before entering politics, Takaichi built a diverse career as a television anchor and drummer in a music band.

Her political journey began in 1993 when she won a seat in Japan’s lower house of parliament as an independent candidate.

 Takaichi's path to politics, however, was not without obstacles—she failed to win her first parliamentary election in 1992 but persevered, achieving victory the following year.

In 1996, she joined the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), marking the start of a long and resilient political career. Over the years, Takaichi has been elected to parliament ten times and faced defeat only once.

She earned recognition as a prominent and influential voice within Japan’s conservative political circles, serving in several key cabinet positions including Minister for Economic Security, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry and Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications.

Takaichi first contested the LDP leadership in 2021 but lost to former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. She made another attempt in 2024, leading in the initial round of voting but ultimately losing to then–prime minister Shigeru Ishiba.

In 2025, her perseverance finally paid off. On her third attempt, Sanae Takaichi secured enough parliamentary support to become Japan’s first female prime minister.

Her election marks a watershed moment in the nation’s political history, symbolizing both determination and progress in Japanese society.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday conveyed his warm felicitations to Ms Sanae Takaichi on assuming office as the Prime Minister of Japan.

In a message shared on X, Pakistan' premier expressed optimism about further advancing the long-standing partnership between Islamabad and Tokyo.

“We look forward to working closely with Prime Minister Takaichi to deepen the enduring friendship and cooperation between our two nations,” PM Shehbaz wrote.