Japan has just elected its first female Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, whom the BBC dubbed as the country’s new “Iron Lady,” in reference to Takaichi’s outspoken respect for Margaret Thatcher — the UK’s original “Iron Lady.”
The nickname could also refer to the fact that Takaichi, 64, is a noted fan of British heavy metal bands like Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, and Deep Purple. She’s also a longtime amateur drummer, playing in a metal band in college, and grew up with a love of riding Kawasaki motorcycles, per a profile on CNN.
To this day, she still picks up her sticks and gets behind an electronic kit whenever she needs to relieve stress. “I play after [my husband] goes to sleep,” she quipped in a recent interview. However, she gave up motorcycles when she was 32 to avoid accidents that could hinder her work.
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Takaichi might not have as much time for drumming after being elected as Japan’s first female Prime Minister on Tuesday. A protégé of Shinzo Abe, Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, who was assassinated in 2022, Takaichi is now the leader of the traditionalist, male-dominated Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
According to The New York Times, Takaichi belongs to the right wing side of the LDP is expected to shift Japan further in that direction while also winning back conservative voters who have embraced the far-right Sanseito party.
“We have received particularly harsh criticism from our core supporters, conservatives, and party members,” she said in a speech after winning the first round of voting, via the BBC. “The LDP must change for the sake of Japan’s present and future. We will always put the national interest first and manage the country with a sense of balance.”
Since joining the LDP, Takaichi has been re-elected nine times according to CNN. She’s held multiple cabinet posts, including some on gender equality and demographic issues, and chaired the party’s Policy Research Council. Most recently, she served as minister of economic security under the administration of Fumio Kishida. Her election as Prime Minister comes after her third attempt.
An immediate test for Ms. Takaichi will be dealing with the uncertainty of Japan’s military and economic alliance with the United States. She is expected to meet next week in Tokyo with US President Donald Trump, according to The New York Times.
Meanwhile, critics have maintained that Takaichi, despite her unconventional rise in the male-dominated landscape of Japanese politics, has a mixed record on women’s rights. She opposes allowing married women to keep separate surnames, and resists female succession in the imperial family. However, her 2025 campaign did propose tax breaks for babysitting and corporate incentives for in-house childcare, hinting at a shift toward more women-friendly policies.