The political situation in Japan

“Japan’s Thatcher” could be a setback for the country’s women

Sanae Takaichi’s victory in the leadership election for Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which by all accounts will soon make her the country’s first female prime minister, is seen by critics as a setback for women’s opportunities in Japan, reports the AP.

Takaichi has promised to drastically increase the low representation of women in Japanese politics, but experts warn that her historical loyalty to male heavyweights within the party could mean the opposite result.

In Japanese media, she is often compared to one of her political idols, Margaret Thatcher. Nikkei, for example, describes her as “Japan’s Thatcher” and writes that they both “broke the glass ceiling” by becoming pioneering female leaders in their respective countries.

Like Margaret Thatcher, she has also held on to traditional values, which according to the BBC means that Japanese women hardly see her win as a major advance. Sanae Takaichi, for example, has been a persistent voice against women keeping their maiden names and against same-sex marriage.

She looks set to become Japan's first female leader 

Sanae Takaichi is set to become Japan's first female prime minister, reports the AP. She was voted in Saturday morning to become the party leader of the country's ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

"I feel how tough it will be going forward, rather than being happy," she said after her win, according to the Japan Times.

Takaichi has previously served as minister of economic security. She is described by the Washington Post as a conservative nationalist who would steer Japanese politics sharply to the right, with an increased focus on Japanese domestic policy.

The 64-year-old former news anchor looks set to be elected prime minister at the end of the month. The previous leader, Shigeru Ishiba, resigned last month after losing his coalition majority in both legislative chambers.