Sanae Takaichi, leader of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, was officially elected the country's prime minister on Tuesday after winning in both houses of parliament, becoming the country's first female leader.
Her election as the new PM ended Japan's three-month political vacuum and wrangling since the coalition's loss in the July parliamentary election, Asahi Shimbun reported.
Asahi Shimbun reported that the LDP has dissolved its coalition government with Komeito and has joined forces with the Japan Innovation Party (JIP) as its new partner. Although the LDP intended to offer cabinet positions to the JIP to share governmental responsibility, the proposal was declined as JIP appears intent on maintaining strategic flexibility, said the report.
According to Japanese media outlets on Tuesday, Takaichi has finalized her plan to appoint former minister for regional revitalization Satsuki Katayama (66) as the finance minister in the new cabinet. Yoshimasa Hayashi (64), the current chief cabinet secretary who ran in the LDP leadership election, is slated to become minister of internal affairs and communications. Shinjiro Koizumi (44), the current agriculture, forestry and fisheries minister, is set to become defense minister. Former LDP secretary general Toshimitsu Motegi (70) has been confirmed to assume the role of foreign minister for the second time. For the pivotal Chief Cabinet Secretary position, former defense minister Minoru Kihara (56), who shares similar conservative political convictions, has been confirmed.
Shigeru Ishiba resigned with his cabinet on Tuesday morning, marking an end to the administration that took office just over a year ago, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Tuesday.
Ishiba's tenure ended on the 386th day, making him the 24th longest-serving of the country's 36 post-World War II prime ministers, according to Japanese news agency Jiji Press.
Takaichi is widely regarded as a conservative within the LDP. Some China experts reached by the Global Times on Tuesday view her election represents a victory for conservatism more than a breakthrough for female candidates. In her case, the conservative identity appears to carry greater weight than the gender label, according to experts.
Takaichi's election as Japan's first female prime minister marks a historic break from political tradition, but her victory primarily stems from power struggles within conservative political circles rather than representing progress in gender equality, Lu Hao, a research fellow at the Institute of Japanese Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Tuesday.
"Her election signals the rising influence of right-wing populism in Japan," Lu told the Global Times on Tuesday.
Prior to her election, Takaichi had drawn significant attention for her right-leaning remarks, particularly regarding China-Japan relations. Her stance on the infamous Yasukuni Shrine issue had also raised concerns among some in Japan about whether her leadership might strain relations with neighboring countries, according to some experts.
Notably, unlike her practice before being elected LDP president, Takaichi did not visit the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo during its three-day autumn festival through Sunday, the Japan Times reported Monday. According to the report, she apparently took into account the possibility that any visit to the shrine could "adversely impact foreign affairs."
According to some Chinese experts, this was widely interpreted as a tactical concession to secure the top office in Japan.