Takaichi Reelected as Japan’s Prime Minister, Pushes Hard-Right Agenda

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi was reappointed Wednesday by Parliament to form her second Cabinet following last week’s landslide election victory, giving her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP ) a two-thirds supermajority in the lower house. All previous ministers are expected to remain, signalling continuity in government. While this majority strengthens her party’s influence, constitutional reforms would still require approval from the upper house and a national referendum, meaning Takaichi cannot unilaterally amend Japan’s postwar pacifist Constitution, though her victory gives her significant leverage to push for changes in security and defense policies.

The victory positions Takaichi to pursue a hard-right policy agenda , including strengthening Japan’s military , expanding government spending, and reinforcing conservative social policies. She has pledged to bolster defense capabilities, lift the ban on lethal weapons exports, and explore the development of nuclear-powered submarines , alongside improving intelligence coordination with allies like the United States, Australia, and Britain .

Addressing rising prices and sluggish wages is her immediate domestic priority . Her government has proposed a two-year suspension of the consumption tax on food to ease household costs. Additional measures include a supplementary budget package, targeted subsidies for households and small businesses, and income tax adjustments to provide relief. Experts caution, however, that such fiscal expansion may exacerbate Japan’s high national debt if not carefully managed.

On foreign policy , Takaichi is preparing for a summit with US President Donald Trump , reinforcing a strong US-Japan alliance . Japan is committed to USD 36 billion in projects under a broader USD 550 billion investment package announced in October. She has also taken a hawkish stance toward China , particularly regarding Taiwan, which resonates with many Japanese frustrated by Beijing’s assertiveness.

Takaichi continues to promote traditional social values , supporting male-only imperial succession, opposing same-sex marriage, and limiting reforms that allow couples to retain separate surnames, while backing the use of maiden-name aliases to ease social pressure on women. She has also expressed interest in visiting the controversial Yasukuni Shrine , a move likely to inflame tensions with neighboring countries.

Despite her long-term goal of constitutional revision , Takaichi is expected to focus first on urgent economic and social challenges . Analysts say her strong parliamentary majority gives her the tools to implement these policies, while balancing domestic pressures and international diplomacy.