Sanae Takaichi elected Japan's first female prime minister

On 21 October 2025, Japan's parliament, the Diet, elected Sanae Takaichi as prime minister, making her the first woman to hold the post. She had won the leadership of the governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) earlier that month, succeeding Shigeru Ishiba.

The vote followed a period of political uncertainty. The LDP had lost its majority in both houses of parliament, and its long-time partner Komeito left the coalition shortly after Takaichi became party leader. She then reached an agreement with the Japan Innovation Party (Ishin), which agreed to cooperate with the government, though without taking cabinet posts at first.

Takaichi named a new cabinet the same day. Her platform stressed measures against rising living costs, stronger defence and economic growth. The coalition agreement also included policy goals on consumer prices, and discussion of easing the burden of consumption tax on food became part of the debate that followed, which is the background to later moves affecting grocery prices and restaurants.