Politics · Japan · 1 hr ago
Japan’s Takaichi marks a year in office amid growing pressure
Sanae Takaichi has completed her first year as Japan’s prime minister, becoming the country’s first woman to hold the job.
She has defied predictions that her time in office would be short, and led the troubled Liberal Democratic party to an election victory.
Takaichi has also won support for her firm response during a prolonged dispute with China over Taiwan, while using social media to connect with younger voters.
But her approval rating has fallen to around 50%, and a cabinet scandal has added to pressure on her government.
Agriculture minister Kazuo Yana resigned on 14 October after remarks about reducing road funding in municipalities that did not support him; Takaichi had stood by him for almost two weeks.
She also faces economic pressures and questions about how to pay for a proposed cut in the consumption tax.
The scandal may further weaken her support, while questions about her leadership style and policies remain unresolved.
Sanae Takaichi marked one year as Japan’s prime minister on October 21, facing economic, political and diplomatic challenges.
Her Cabinet’s approval rating fell to 49.1 percent in a Kyodo News poll after the resignation of farm minister Kazuo Yana.
Takaichi’s government plans to cut the consumption tax on food and beverages from 8 percent to 1 percent for two years from next April.
The ruling coalition has a majority in the lower house but remains a minority in the upper house, where it needs opposition cooperation to pass legislation.
Takaichi’s first year also included a lower house election victory and passage of several conservative policy measures.
- Who
- Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s prime minister, and her government.
- What
- Takaichi marked one year in office amid political pressure, weakening public support and policy challenges.
- When
- October 21, 2026, one year after she became prime minister.
- Where
- Japan.
- Why
- The anniversary comes as her government faces fallout from a minister’s resignation, economic pressures and difficult parliamentary and diplomatic challenges.
Takaichi’s government
Opposition parties
Yana controversy
Takaichi’s government
Takaichi initially defended farm minister Kazuo Yana, who later resigned amid pressure over remarks about road funding.
Opposition parties
Opposition parties questioned Yana’s fitness to serve as a lawmaker and sought to hold Takaichi accountable for appointing him.
Takaichi won the Liberal Democratic Party leadership race to succeed Shigeru Ishiba.
Takaichi became Japan’s first female prime minister.
Kazuo Yana took up the post of farm minister in a Cabinet reshuffle.
Yana became the first minister in Takaichi’s government to resign.
Takaichi marked one year in office.
- Cabinet approval
- 49.1 percent in a Kyodo News poll conducted Saturday and Sunday
- Planned food tax cut
- From 8 percent to 1 percent for two years from next April
- Lower house election
- The LDP-JIP bloc secured well over two-thirds of seats in February
- Farm minister
- Kazuo Yana resigned on October 14, 2026
- Prime minister
- Takaichi became Japan’s first female prime minister on October 21, 2025
4 sources
FOCUS: PM Takaichi's tightening grip may stir intraparty dissent in 2nd year
In Japan, Takaichi’s first-year leadership style threatens hold on power
Sanae Takaichi took on Japan’s male-dominated politics and won – can she survive a second year in power?
What people are saying
quite honestly, lame
Takaichi’s direct style has been an asset … particularly in her diplomatic strategy