Sanae Takaichi (高市早苗, b. 7 March 1961, Nara, Japan) is a Japanese politician. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), she was elected on 21 October 2025 by the National Diet as Japans first female prime minister. Takaichi has been elected to the Diet nine times since Japans postwar period and has held seven ministerial positions in various governments.
Sanae Takaichi, 21 October 2025 - (Anadolu Ajansı)
Takaichi Sanae was born on 7 March 1961 in Yamatokoriyama, a city in Nara Prefecture, Japan. She began her education at Nara Prefectural High School and later studied business mathematics at the Faculty of Business Administration of Kobe University, graduating in 1984. Immediately after graduation, she was admitted to the Matsushita Political and Economic Institute (松下政経塾) in the same year and graduated from the institution in 1989.
In 1987, she worked as a Congressional Fellow in the United States Congress, gaining experience in finance and business. Before entering politics, she worked as a television presenter for Japanese networks including TV Asahi and Fuji TV. She decided to enter politics in 1989.
Takaichi was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1993 as an independent candidate. Shortly after, she joined the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). In 1998, she was appointed Assistant Minister of International Trade and Industry in the Obuchi Cabinet. In 2001, she served as Chair of the House of Representatives Committee on Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
In 2002, during the Koizumi Cabinet, she assumed the role of Senior Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. In 2004, she served as a faculty member at the Faculty of Economics at Kinki University, teaching courses on industrial policy and small and medium-sized enterprises. In 2006, she was appointed Minister of Science and Technology Policy, Innovation, Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs, Gender Equality, and Food Safety in the First Abe Cabinet.
In 2008, she served as Minister of State for Economy, Trade and Industry. In 2012, she was appointed General Director of Public Relations for the LDP and later became Chair of the Policy Research Council.
In 2014, during the second revision of Prime Minister Shinzo Abes cabinet, she was appointed Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, a position she held until 2017. During the same period, she also assumed the role of Minister of State responsible for the Social Security and Tax Number System. From 2019 to 2020, she continued in the same position as Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications.
In 2021, she was reappointed as Chair of the LDPs Policy Research Council. In 2022 and 2023, she served as Minister for Economic Security in the Second Kishida Cabinet. During this time, she was also responsible for the Cool Japan Strategy, Intellectual Property Strategy, Science and Technology Policy, and Space Policy.
During her tenures as Minister for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs, Minister of Science and Technology, and Minister of Gender Equality, she developed national policies in the fields of national security, technology, and economic strategy.
In October 2025, Takaichi won the LDP leadership election, becoming the partys first female leader. In the same month, she was elected prime minister by the National Diet with 237 votes. Her opponent, Noda Yoshihiko, leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party, received 149 votes. With this result, Takaichi became Japans first female prime minister.
Japans first female prime minister Sanae Takaichi (center), with new cabinet members at the Prime Ministers Office in Tokyo, 21 October 2025 - (Anadolu Ajansı)
The new government was formed through an alliance between the LDP and the Japan Innovation Party (JIP). This alliance followed the dissolution of the LDPs long-standing coalition partner, Komeito, after its loss of majority in the House of Councillors elections in July 2025. The coalition secured a parliamentary majority by gaining the support of JIPs 35 members of parliament. On 21 October 2025, Takaichi met with Emperor Naruhito to formally assume office and took the oath of office as Japans 104th prime minister.
Two women were appointed as ministers in Takaichis cabinet: Satsuki Katayama as Minister of Finance and Kimi Onoda as Minister for Economic Security. Women constituted 16 percent of the cabinet.
Takaichi married former LDP member of parliament Taku Yamamoto in 2004. The couple divorced in 2017 and remarried in 2021. Takaichi adopted Yamamotos three children from his previous marriage.
Takaichis personal interests include scuba diving, playing musical instruments, watching baseball, and martial arts. Her official biography lists her favorite foods as tarako gohan (cod roe rice), croquettes, and butaman (steamed pork buns). She uses the phrase “High aspiration, broad vision, deep heart” (高い志 広い眼 深い心) as her personal principle.
Early Life and Education
Beginning of Political Career (1993–2005)
Cabinet Roles and Rise Within the Party (2006–2020)
LDP Leadership and Election as Prime Minister (2025)
Personal Life
