Female Prime Minister Rises in Japan’s Patriarchal Party

TEHRAN (Defapress) - From the Liberal Democratic Party, accused of patriarchy and misogyny, a conservative star is emerging as Japan’s next prime minister. Sanae Takaichi, 62, is the first female secretary-general of a ruling party to hold power continuously since World War II.

She first entered parliament in 1993 from her hometown of Nara and has served in key government posts, including economy minister and interior minister.

Takaichi, who rarely addressed gender issues during the campaign, said as she tried her hand at the party’s leadership for the first time: “The party’s landscape will change a little with the arrival of the first female secretary-general.”

Female LDP members are rarely elected to cabinet positions and are often dismissed for making feminist comments. Takaichi knows that she must stick to the party’s traditional beliefs or she won’t last long. After losing two internal party elections, she has tried to be more social and build better relationships.

While calling for an all-out effort to rebuild the party and restore public trust, the new LDP secretary-general urged all party members to work like horses, adding: “I don’t believe in creating a work-life balance. I work, work, work, work.” The comment quickly trended on social media, provoking reactions ranging from support to concern.

Women hold only 15 percent of seats in Japan's lower house of parliament, and only two of Japan's 47 governors are women. Takaichi has pledged to significantly increase the number of female ministers in his government.

Takaichi has stressed the need for financial support for women's health and infertility treatment as part of party policy, and is in favor of supporting women to better fulfill their traditional roles as mothers and wives. 

She has previously mentioned her own struggles with accepting the symptoms of menopause and stressed the importance of educating men to treat women properly in school and at work.

Takaichi has announced plans to strengthen Japan's military, invest in growth, develop nuclear fusion, strengthen cybersecurity, and pursue stricter immigration policies. She supports retaining power among the male royal family and is against homosexuality.

Political observers say his revisionist views on Japan's war history could complicate the country's relations with Beijing and Seoul.