Japan’s First Female PM an Ultra-Conservative Star in Male-Dominated Party

In a country that ranks poorly internationally for gender equality, the new president of Japan’s long-governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) — and likely next prime minister — is an ultra-conservative rising star in a male-dominated organization that critics call an obstacle to women’s advancement, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

Takaichi has maintained old-fashioned views favored by male party heavyweights. (Photo: 高市早苗 Facebook) 

Sanae Takaichi, 64, admires former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and is a proponent of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s conservative vision for Japan.

Takaichi is the first female president of the LDP, which has dominated Japan’s postwar politics almost without interruption.

She rarely addressed gender issues during the campaign, but on Saturday, as she tried out the party president’s chair and posed for photos — a custom for newly elected leaders — Takaichi said, “Now that the LDP has its first female president, its scenery will change a little.”

First elected to parliament from her hometown of Nara in 1993, Takaichi has held key party and government posts, including minister of economic security, internal affairs, and gender equality.

Female lawmakers in the conservative LDP who were given limited ministerial roles have often been sidelined after speaking up about diversity and gender equality.

Takaichi, however, has maintained old-fashioned views favored by male party heavyweights. She has described herself as a workaholic who prefers studying at home to socializing.

After unsuccessfully running for the party presidency twice, she said she made efforts to be more sociable to build connections.

On Saturday, as she called for an all-out effort to rebuild the party and regain public support, she urged lawmakers to “work like a horse.” Then she added, “I will abandon the word ‘work-life balance.’ I will work, work, work, and work.”