Tokyo — Japan could soon see its first female prime minister as Sanae Takaichi, the only woman in the race to lead the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), pledged to push for greater gender equality and review immigration policies ahead of the October 4 leadership contest.
Takaichi, 64, who formally filed her candidacy alongside four other contenders, told reporters that her administration would surprise many with the number of women she intends to appoint.
“Our cabinet and LDP executive committee will include women to the extent that they will be comparable to those of Nordic countries,” Takaichi said, drawing a sharp contrast with Japan’s current political structure.
Japan has long struggled with gender imbalance in both politics and corporate leadership. The World Economic Forum’s 2025 Gender Gap Report ranked the country 118th out of 148 nations, far behind Nordic countries such as Iceland, Finland, and Norway, which lead the world in gender parity.
In Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s outgoing 20-member cabinet, only two are women. Similarly, women make up just around 15 percent of lawmakers in the lower house.
While known as a staunch conservative, Takaichi also addressed the sensitive issue of immigration, saying Japan must avoid “rushed policies” that could spark social tension. “I’m going to review the policy so that we will be able to live peacefully together with foreigners,” she said, while acknowledging that the nation’s aging population requires foreign workers.
Her main rival, Shinjiro Koizumi, 44, also touched on immigration in his campaign pitch, warning that illegal employment and rising friction in some communities had fueled public concern. However, he emphasized that his top priority would be tackling inflation and high living costs through an emergency economic package.
Other candidates in the race include 69-year-old former trade negotiator Toshimitsu Motegi, who promised a younger and more gender-diverse cabinet; 64-year-old government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi; and 50-year-old ex-economic security minister Takayuki Kobayashi.
The leadership election comes at a turbulent time for the LDP, which recently lost its parliamentary majority. Analysts say the party is struggling to connect with younger voters.
“The undercurrent in the political scene is a transition from old parties to new parties, so the LDP needs to revive itself to survive,” said Junichi Takase, professor emeritus at Nagoya University of Foreign Studies.
Whoever emerges victorious in the LDP race will likely become Japan’s fifth prime minister in just five years, highlighting the political instability in the world’s third-largest economy.
