Feb 13, 2026, 1:44 PM ETInterview

Is Takaichi Sanae the most powerful woman in the world? | The Economist

Sanae Takaichi is Japan's first female Prime Minister, distinguishing herself from previous leaders who were often the sons of former officials; she hails from an ordinary middle-class background.
She is characterized by a "mold-breaking" public persona, including her history as a university heavy metal drummer, motorbike riding, and the popularity of her iconic handbag.
At 62, her age is average for Japanese Prime Ministers, though her leadership style is described as refreshingly unconventional.
Her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) secured an unprecedented majority, described as the largest mandate any party has held since the end of World War II.
Despite her outsider persona, she is a 30-year veteran of the establishment LDP, tasked with countering populist disruptors rather than dismantling the party machinery.
The election occurred amidst a historic snowstorm in Tokyo, adding uncertainty to the fluid political moment before her victory was confirmed.

Takaichi's primary campaign slogan focuses on making Japan "stronger and prosperous," with the "stronger" component centered on expanding the military.
She already lifted defense spending to 2% of GDP via a supplementary budget in October upon taking office, though this is noted as a target lower than NATO's current preferred benchmarks.
The shift represents a departure from the post-WWII constitutional interpretation that limited Japan's forces to defensive roles only.
Her security strategy builds upon the roadmap set by her mentor, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, but aims to accelerate the pace of military modernization.
The driver for this acceleration is the combination of China's rapid military expansion and perceived unreliability of the US security umbrella.
Takaichi plans to pursue a constitutional revision to formalize the military's status, a move requiring a two-thirds majority in both legislative chambers.

Takaichi recently provoked a hostile diplomatic reaction by stating that a Chinese attack on Taiwan would affect Japan's "essential interests," implying potential Japanese intervention.
This statement broke with the longstanding policy of strategic ambiguity held by previous Japanese and US administrations regarding Taiwan.
China responded aggressively, with a Consul General threatening her, and retaliated by banning Chinese tourism, significantly impacting Japan's growing tourism sector.
Analysts view her initial comment as a diplomatic mistake that contradicts her intentions but believe she will not retract the position due to its domestic political utility.
The stance has generated a "rally around the flag" effect, consolidating her image as a tough leader capable of standing up to Japan's hostile neighbors.
This hardened posture is expected to complicate future negotiations on constitutional revision, which China will likely oppose vigorously.

Takaichi faces a challenging timeline where the urgency of regional threats requires faster military growth than her previous "gentle" approach allowed.
While 2% of GDP is a significant step, experts note that this level may still be insufficient to match the scale of China's naval and air force expansion.
The current administration's majority provides the political capital necessary to attempt constitutional changes, but the success of such moves remains uncertain given the domestic and international hurdles.
The administration acknowledges the difficulty of balancing economic prosperity goals with the massive fiscal demands of a rapid military buildup.
Japan's geopolitical trajectory is increasingly viewed as a harbinger of global security trends, specifically the need for US allies to assume greater defense responsibilities.