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Sanae Takaichi Becomes Japan’s First Female Prime Minister, Channeling Margaret Thatcher’s Legacy

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Japan entered a new political era on Tuesday as Sanae Takaichi was elected the country’s first female prime minister, marking a historic moment in its male-dominated political landscape. A staunch conservative and admirer of Britain’s late leader Margaret Thatcher, Takaichi’s rise followed an intense political struggle after her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership victory on October 5, which prompted the party’s centrist coalition partner to quit their 26-year alliance.

At 64, Takaichi faces daunting challenges — steering Japan’s heavily indebted economy, managing strained relations with China, and preparing to host U.S. President Donald Trump next week. Known as a fierce supporter of “Abenomics”, the pro-growth policy framework of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, she advocates for increased government spending, tax cuts, and a more assertive role for the Bank of Japan — moves that could unsettle investors.

Her political style mirrors Thatcher’s toughness but departs from her fiscal restraint. Takaichi’s nationalist positions are likely to stir both domestic and international debate: she is a frequent visitor to the Yasukuni Shrine, supports constitutional revision to expand Japan’s military role, and has floated the idea of a “quasi-security alliance” with Taiwan, risking tensions with Beijing.

Despite her hardline stance, Takaichi’s personal story resonates with many. Born to working-class parents in Nara, she worked her way through Kobe University and later served as a fellow in the U.S. Congress. A fan of heavy metal and a drummer herself, she combines toughness with flashes of warmth — reflected even in her trademark “Sanae Cut,” a hairstyle her longtime hairdresser says symbolizes her attentiveness to people.

Schoolboy, 10, Fatally Stabbed in Southern China Near Japanese School

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A 10-year-old boy was tragically killed in a stabbing attack while on his way to a Japanese school in Shenzhen, southern China, on Wednesday. The boy was attacked approximately 200 meters from the school’s gates by a 44-year-old man, who was apprehended at the scene and taken into custody.

Both Japanese and Chinese authorities have not confirmed the nationality of the victim, though Japanese nationality is typically required for enrollment at the Shenzhen Japanese School. Japan’s Foreign Minister, Yoko Kamikawa, expressed deep sorrow over the incident, calling it a “despicable act” and emphasizing Japan’s demand for increased security for Japanese nationals in China.

The attack occurred on a significant historical date, the anniversary of the “918” incident, which marked the start of Japan’s invasion of China in 1931. This date is often remembered in China as a time of national humiliation, and anti-Japanese sentiment has been on the rise, partially fueled by state media and nationalist rhetoric.

This incident is the second knife attack near a Japanese school in China in recent months. In June, a Chinese man wounded a Japanese mother and her child in a stabbing near a school in Suzhou, eastern China. Despite these recent attacks, Chinese authorities have labeled them as isolated incidents and have not specified motives.

The frequency of such attacks has raised concerns, especially after another high-profile stabbing two weeks prior to the Suzhou attack, in which four American instructors were stabbed in a public park in Jilin province. China’s foreign ministry assured the public that effective measures are being taken to protect the safety of foreigners in the country.