Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Faces Critical Test After Turbulent Year

One year into her term, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has defied predictions of a short-lived administration, successfully navigating the complexities of the nation’s traditionally male-dominated political landscape. Her influence is even visible in the souvenir kiosks near the national Diet building, where items featuring “Sanae-chan”—her popular, affectionate moniker—remain in high demand, including dango sweets, stickers, and document files that declare, “Japan is back.” According to “The Takaichi range is incredibly popular,”, A member of staff.

As a protege of the late prime minister Shinzo Abe, the 65-year-old leader has marked her one-year anniversary in October at a precarious juncture. While she managed to lead the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to a major election victory, her approval rating has dipped to roughly 50%. Although this remains a strong figure for a Japanese premier twelve months into a term and stays well above the 30% “danger zone” that typically heralds the end of a government, it represents her lowest popularity level since taking office. But still a robust number for a Japanese leader 12 months into their term, and comfortably clear of the 30% “danger zone” that has signalled the end of previous administrations, recent opinion poll put Takaichi’s approval rating at around 50% – the lowest ⁠level since she ⁠took ​office. Although her body language suggested she was far from impressed, she chose not to respond to his quip about Pearl Harbor when they met in the Oval Office in March. Abe, by contrast, hosted 50 gatherings over a similar period, and Fumio Kishida 35, including several during the Covid-19 pandemic. “It’s usual for Japanese prime ministers to hang out with other politicians in the eveni. Although her husband told a Japanese monthly magazine that he is occasionally permitted to order a pizza, adding that the couple stockpile microwav, security protocols reportedly mean she is forbidden from going shopping. While her predecessors built alliances over dinner at exclusive ryotei restaurants, Takaichi prefers to spend her evenings at home with her husband, Taku Yamamoto, a former lower house lawmaker who suffered a stroke last year.

Diplomatically, Takaichi’s direct communication style has served as a significant asset. Sheila A. Smith, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, notes that Takaichi’s willingness to provide clear, no-nonsense responses to major policy challenges—such as increasing defense spending and bolstering Japan’s posture against threats from North Korea and China—has maintained her support base. Her social media engagement has also helped bridge the gap with younger voters who feel alienated by the more traditional, analogue political methods of her predecessors. “Takaichi is clearly more isolated, refusing in-person briefings from bureaucrats, having fewer meals with political allies and business representatives, and generally relying on her own judgment and perhaps not hearing as wide a range of views as her predecessors,” he says.

However, her tenure is currently being tested by internal pressures and governance hurdles. Earlier this month, she faced her first major cabinet scandal involving agricultural minister Kazuo Yana. Yana sparked outrage after making remarks about cutting infrastructure funding to municipalities that failed to support him. Takaichi initially defended him, labeling the allegations as “quite honestly, lame” if true. Following mounting pressure, Yana became the first cabinet minister to resign under her administration on October 14. She also faces mounting anger in Okinawa following the arrest this month of a US marine suspected of murdering and robbing a local woman. According to “She will need to handle slip-ups by cabinet members, hurdles in keeping her coalition partner satisfied and, most importantly, continuing consumer concerns about cost-of-living pressures,”, Smith. According to the Kyodo news agency, in that time she wrote 370 posts on X. However, she does enjoy a cigarette, perhaps accompanied by a blast of Smoke On the Water by one of her favourite bands, Deep Purple.

Tobias Harris, founder of Japan Foresight, suggests that Takaichi’s delayed reaction to the scandal may impact her future poll numbers, as she stood by Yana for nearly two weeks. Analysts warn that her reputation for avoiding the LDP’s internal social games and failing to build a robust cadre of loyalists could leave her isolated if her political fortunes decline. Harris noted that while this independence appeals to voters, it risks leaving her with few allies during crises.

Her administration also faces scrutiny over its handling of economic policy and long-standing social issues.

She has faced criticism for effectively blocking potential revisions to Japan’s male-only imperial succession laws, despite clear public desire for a reigning empress. Despite the public’s enthusiasm for a reigning empress, and offered muted backing for Tomoko Akane, the Japanese head of the international criminal court, which has been targeted with sanctions by Trump, she has been accused of pushing through revisions that practically rule out a change in Japan’s male-only succession law.

Furthermore, her proposed economic relief measures—including a two-year reduction of the consumption tax on food and drink from 8% to 1% and cash payments to struggling families—remain under fire. Takaichi has insisted these plans will not require additional borrowing, yet has failed to provide a clear funding strategy, fueling concerns regarding Japan’s public debt, which is already the highest in the G7.

On the global stage, Takaichi has prioritized maintaining a stable relationship with the United States. She has held four meetings with Donald Trump since becoming prime minister and has successfully navigated awkward diplomatic moments to secure what she termed a “golden age” for Tokyo-Washington relations. Despite her international successes, her domestic work habits have drawn skepticism. Known for working grueling hours—sometimes requiring aides to report in the early morning—and claiming to sleep only two to four hours a night, her extreme work style has become a point of public discussion.

Compounding these difficulties is a perceived retreat from traditional media engagement. Takaichi has significantly reduced press briefings compared to her predecessors, such as Shigeru Ishiba or Fumio Kishida. She rarely grants individual interviews, opting instead to communicate policy details directly via posts on X. Media executives have also noted that traditional background briefings with newspaper and television leaders have effectively ended, leading to accusations that she is attempting to bypass typical media oversight. She gave 34 press briefings, fewer than her immediate predecessors Shigeru Ishiba, with 57, and Fumio Kishida, with 90, held over a comparable period, in her first five months in office.