Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 1115 EAT on Monday 20 October 2025

Sanae Takaichi, a prominent hardline conservative, appears set to become Japan’s first female prime minister as the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) moves toward finalizing a coalition agreement.

Hirofumi Yoshimura, co-leader of the right-leaning Japan Innovation Party (Nippon Ishin no Kai), said on Monday that his party was prepared to support a Takaichi-led government, giving the LDP the parliamentary majority it needs to maintain power.

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) appeared on the brink of losing power ahead of an extraordinary parliamentary session on Tuesday to elect Japan’s next prime minister.

However, in a last-minute development, Hirofumi Yoshimura, co-leader of the Japan Innovation Party (Nippon Ishin no Kai), told reporters in Osaka: “I told Takaichi that we should move forward together.” Yoshimura said he would meet Sanae Takaichi at 6 p.m. local time (09:00 GMT) to finalize the coalition agreement.

The deal clears the way for Takaichi to secure victory in Tuesday’s vote, paving the way for her to succeed outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who resigned last week.

Takaichi, a 64-year-old China hawk and prominent figure on the LDP’s right wing, was elected party leader earlier this month.

Her historic bid to become Japan’s first female prime minister was thrown into turmoil when the centrist Komeito party ended its 26-year coalition with the LDP, plunging the country into political uncertainty.

The split came just days after Takaichi’s rise to the party leadership and followed Komeito’s criticism of the LDP’s failure to tighten political funding rules in the wake of a high-profile slush fund scandal. The Buddhist-backed party was also reportedly alarmed by Takaichi’s ultraconservative stance, particularly her history of hardline rhetoric toward China—despite recent efforts to moderate her tone.

The coalition between the LDP and Ishin would control 231 seats in the lower house—just two short of a majority—meaning additional support from other parties would be required to pass legislation.

Despite Takaichi appearing poised to shatter a political glass ceiling by becoming Japan’s first female prime minister, her rise has not been widely embraced by Japanese women.

“The prospect of a first female prime minister doesn’t make me happy,” renowned sociologist Chizuko Ueno wrote on X, adding that Takaichi’s leadership “doesn’t mean Japanese politics becomes kinder to women,” according to Al Jazeera.

Chiyako Sato, a political commentator for the Mainichi Shimbun, echoed those concerns, describing Takaichi’s positions as “extremely hawkish” and expressing doubt that she would champion policies promoting diversity.

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