Takaichi enjoys popularity amid Japan’s rightward turn
Since taking office on 21 October 2025, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s government has maintained high approval ratings of around 70 per cent. This is almost on par with the long-serving governments of Junichiro Koizumi (2001–06) and Shinzo Abe (2012–20). Takaichi’s popularity stems from her public image as a novel, strong leader and her alignment with the surge of right-wing populism in Japan.
One key factor behind Takaichi’s popularity is her status as the first female prime minister in Japan’s constitutional history. Over the past few years, political distrust has grown due to issues such as the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) ‘slush fund’ scandal where revenues from political fundraising parties were not officially reported. A female prime minister is expected to bring a sense of freshness and novelty capable of revitalising Japan’s stagnating political landscape. This likely also contributed to her election as LDP President on 4 October 2025.
Takaichi’s clear and decisive manner of speaking has also fostered a sense among the public that she will ‘get things done’. According to a November 2025 Nikkei opinion poll, the top reasons for supporting the government were ‘trust in Takaichi’s character’ (37 per cent) and ‘strong leadership’ (34 per cent).
These two factors are related to the image of Margaret Thatcher, the United Kingdom’s first female prime minister, who Takaichi openly modelled herself on even before taking office. She even wore Thatcher’s signature blue attire on important occasions such as the LDP leadership vote and the parliamentary vote appointing her as Prime Minister. Thatcher was renowned for her strong leadership and bold reforms, with many voters appearing to project this image onto Takaichi.
The Japanese public also seems to be in favour of Takaichi’s economic policies. At present, Japan’s most pressing domestic policy issue is the rising cost of living. In November 2025, the Takaichi administration launched a comprehensive economic package, with countermeasures against inflation as one of its key pillars. The package included reductions to electricity and gas bills, grants to local governments and financial support for child-rearing families. According to a November 2025 Asahi Shimbun poll, 44 per cent of respondents said they ‘approve’ of these inflation-countering measures.
Above all, Takaichi’s conservative and right-wing stance is a significant factor behind her high approval rating. Takaichi has long insisted on amending Article 9 of the Constitution, known as the pacifist clause. In November 2025, Takaichi stated in the Diet that ‘if China invades Taiwan by warships, it will likely be regarded as an existential crisis situation for Japan’. The term ‘existential crisis situation’, introduced by statute in 2015, allows Japan to use collective self-defence. This means that Takaichi implied a Chinese attack on Taiwan could justify Japan’s use of its Self-Defense Forces, provoking strong opposition from China.
Takaichi’s remarks and policies on foreigners further illustrate her right-wing attitude. During the LDP presidential race, she claimed — without solid evidence — that ‘in Nara Park, foreign tourists have been kicking and beating deer’. Such remarks are received favourably among conservative and right-leaning voters, particularly on social media. The Takaichi government also plans to tighten policies regarding foreign nationals, including stricter immigration control and restrictions on land purchases by foreigners. In the Asahi Shimbun poll, 66 per cent of respondents said they ‘welcomed’ such policies, far exceeding the 24 per cent who expressed ‘concern’.
The surge of right-wing populism in Japan is key to understanding why Takaichi’s stance is favourably accepted among the public. Right-wing and far-right movements have been gaining ground in Western countries, a trend also spreading in Japan. A typical example is the rise of Sanseito. In the July 2025 upper house election, Sanseito increased its seats from two to 14. Under the slogan ‘Japanese first’, the party opposed what it termed the excessive acceptance of foreigners and establishment of a ‘Foreigners’ Policy Agency’ that would oversee policies towards foreigners.
Before the rise of Sanseito, policies towards foreigners attracted limited attention. But after Sanseito raised the issue during their election campaign, other parties including the governing LDP, Japan Innovation Party and Democratic Party For the People (DPFP) began to follow suit, insisting they would introduce tighter policies on foreigners. As a result, policies towards foreigners moved to the centre of Japan’s political agenda. Takaichi’s above-mentioned remarks on foreigners were made in this context.
As Sanseito and DPFP increased their seats in the upper house, Takaichi’s LDP no longer holds a majority in the government. Despite her high approval rating, she cannot avoid facing difficulties in implementing her policies. Many bills she plans to submit, such as bills restricting land acquisition by foreigners and establishing the ‘National Intelligence Agency’, are controversial. It is difficult for the government to have these bills passed without opposition parties’ cooperation. How Takaichi will utilise her popularity and demonstrate leadership is to be seen.
Yu Uchiyama is Professor at the Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Tokyo.