Sanae Takaichi became Japan’s first female prime minister after winning a lower house vote on October 21, 2025.

Sanae Takaichi, leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, won the lower house vote on October 21, 2025, securing 237 votes and becoming the first woman to be designated Japan’s next prime minister under the constitution’s provisions that prioritize the lower house’s decision. She will formally assume office later that day, succeeding Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who resigned after the LDP’s recent electoral losses. Takaichi’s appointment marks a historic political milestone as Japan faces domestic challenges and shifting regional dynamics.