On October 21, Takashi Takashi, President of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, won the prime minister's named election in the House of Representatives and Senate of the National Assembly, and was elected Japan's 104th Prime Minister. Who is this first female prime minister in Japanese history? After the twists and turns finally succeed in the sprint phase, what challenges will Gaocheng face?
"Rebel Girl" → "Abe Girl" → Japan's First Female Prime Minister
early life
He was born in Nara County in 1961, his father was a Toyota officer and his mother was a police officer. Politics and the growth environment of the high market are far from Japanese political family children such as Xiao Jing, Lin Feng, and Lin Feng.
Media reports that her high school and university period was "rebellious girl", liked to climb the iron wire into the campus. It is said that high school performance in the middle school was good, was admitted to Qingxian University and Early Risata University, but because of the high tuition fees in private schools, she eventually chose Kobe University.
After graduating from college, in order to prepare for civil servants, Takashi entered the famous Matsushita Political and Economic School. The school later became the cradle of Japanese politicians, cultivating many government cabinet members and members of parliament. It is reported that at Matsushita Political and Economic School, Takashi met founder and Japanese entrepreneur Konosuke Matsushita and became very interested in politics.
In the 1980s, at the height of the US-Japan trade friction, 26-year-old Takashi went to the United States with funding from Matsushita Political and Economic College to work in the office of Colorado Democratic Representative Patricia Schroeder.
After working in the United States for more than a year, Takashi returned to Japan and briefly served as a host of TV Asahi.
History of Politics
In 1993, Takaichi was elected as a member of the Japanese House of Representatives for the first time and officially entered the political arena. She initially ran as an independent, then joined the New Progressive Party and eventually joined the Liberal Democratic Party.
In the past 32 years, Takashi has served as Deputy Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, Extraordinary Minister of the Cabinet Office in charge of Okinawa and northern countermeasures, Minister of General Affairs, Minister of Economic Security, etc.
High City has a close relationship with Abe and is a steadfast successor to the “Abe Line”. Especially during Abe’s several prime ministerial terms, High City took several important cabinet positions. It is that when Abe was elected Prime Minister of Japan for the first time in 2006, High City entered the first Japanese cabinet, serving as the cabinet special minister in charge of Okinawa and Northern countermeasures. After Abe’s second election as prime minister in 2012, High City served as chairman of the self-government of the People’s Party, and served as the general affairs minister from 2014 to 2017 and 2019 to 2021.
It is that Abe has repeatedly praised Gao as "the star of conservatives", and the city has also been labeled "Abe Girl" by the outside world. After the assassination of Shinzo Abe, Gao said that he wanted to "inherit" the legacy of Abe, and was supported by a part of the conservatives.
High City has three times participated in the self-government party presidential election. In 2021, High City won for the first time and defeated Shandong; in 2024, she tried again to run and defeated Sharp; and on October 4, this year, High City was elected president of the self-government party. On the same day, High City chose a blue costume, which may have been inspired by its icon, the former British Prime Minister Mrs. Thatcher.
policy proposition
Gaoshi is known for his distinctive right-wing conservative stance. Ideologically, she advocated restoring Japan's traditional values and national pride, emphasizing amending the constitution, strengthening security, and safeguarding the authority of the Mikado system.
As one of the representative figures of Japan's right-wing politicians, Takashi has visited the Yasukuni Shrine many times. She is conservative and tough in terms of diplomatic security, advocating increasing defense fees and enacting a counterintelligence law.
Takashi also advocated the implementation of a strict "foreigner policy." During the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election campaign, she emphasized that foreigners visiting Japan frequently acted improperly, and even claimed that "foreigners kicked deer in Nara Park." This statement was denied by Nara Park, triggering criticism and doubts.
Elected three times.
Future challenges are heavy
Last minute "hand in hand" reform meeting
After Takashi became the first female president in the history of the Liberal Democratic Party on October 4, she had a high probability of winning the prime minister election. However, Japan's Komeito Party announced on the 10th that it would withdraw from its ruling alliance with the Liberal Democratic Party, adding variables to Takashi's career as prime minister.
Since then, for the "sprint" phase, Takashi held talks with the leader of the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party and the leader of the National Democratic Party respectively. On the 20th, the Liberal Democratic Party finally found a new ruling ally and signed a joint ruling agreement with the Reform Association.
After experiencing a series of political turmoil, High City finally won the prime minister nomination election on 21 December.
Take over the "mess"?
When Takashi was elected president of the Liberal Democratic Party, some analysts pointed out that she would face multiple challenges after taking office, and the road to governing might not be smooth.
First of all, since the total number of seats in the House of Representatives and Senate of the two parties is less than half, Gaoshi will face the dilemma of "minority ruling", and it may be difficult to implement policies.
Second, as the president of the self-government party, the high city needs to unite within the party and regain the people's trust in the self-government party's scandal, the "politics and money" issue reflecting the interests of many people in the self-government party, among which the support of the high city's former "Abbas" is the "black gold" scandal's disaster zone, how to deal with related issues is a severe test for the high market.
In addition, the Japanese people are dissatisfied with the current government's response to issues such as rising prices, aging minority, and insufficient local vitality, while the high markets reiterate the economic line of the Tianjin period, advocating for more active fiscal policy.
Moreover, in the field of diplomatic security, although Japan and the United States have reached an agreement on tariff issues, there are still uncertainties in terms of specific implementation and investment in the United States. In addition, if some of Takashi's right-wing conservative ideas are implemented into actual policies, they will also intensify conflicts between Japan and neighboring countries.
Frequent “change of phase” causes Japanese people to worry
日本前外交官、政治学者东乡和彦日前表示，日本外交近年来最大的“噩梦”是六年（2006年至2012年）内换了六位首相，前三年是自民党三位，后三年是民主党三位，每年一换。东乡和彦指出，这段时间对日本的外交是极其有害的，“旋转门首相”一词在那时已在国际上扎根。 （详情>>）
而近五年来，日本已经历了五任首相，不少日本民众担忧，日本首相“换得太频繁了”，不利于国家稳定。（详情>>）
This time, Japan has "changed phases" again in less than a year. On October 1st last year, Shigeru Ishiba was elected as the 102nd Japanese Prime Minister. Eight days after taking office, he announced the dissolution of the House of Representatives, setting a record for the fastest dissolution of the House of Representatives after the election of a prime minister after the war. On October 27th, the votes were counted in the new House of Representatives election. As a result, the ruling coalition composed of the Liberal Democratic Party and the Komeito Party lost, failed to win more than half of the seats in the new House of Representatives, and had to go through another prime minister's nomination election within 30 days. On November 11th, Shigeru Ishiba was re-elected as Japanese Prime Minister.
On September 7th this year, Shigeru Ishiba announced his resignation as president of the Liberal Democratic Party, and his resignation also made the Liberal Democratic Party enter the "election mode" again. After Takaichi was elected president of the Liberal Democratic Party on the 4th of this month, he still needs to be elected by the Prime Minister before he can become the Prime Minister of Japan.
When Takashi was elected president of the Liberal Democratic Party, then-Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed the hope that Takashi could lead Japan in the right direction. Shigeru Ishiba also said that what is needed is unity and tolerance, not conflict and division.
During the Liberal Democratic Party presidential campaign, Takashi shouted the slogan: Japan is back. What kind of Japan does she want to bring back? Where will she take Japan? These remain to be seen.