Respected figure: Baroness Margaret Thatcher. Personal goal: to become Japan's Iron Lady.
After two failed attempts, Sanae Takaichi finally achieved her long-held ambition. The 64-year-old was elected leader of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on its 70th anniversary - putting her on course to become the country's first female prime minister.
A former government minister and TV host, and once a drummer in a heavy metal band, she will now face the challenge of leading a party still struggling to regain voter trust after scandals, while responding to a rising far right.
Born in Nara Prefecture in 1961, Takaishi's father was an office worker and her mother a police officer. Politics was far from her upbringing. She was once an avid heavy metal drummer and briefly hosted a television show. Her interest in politics sparked during the 1980s US-Japan trade friction, propelling her to work with Congresswoman Patricia Schroeder.
Takaichi's political career began in 1992, and since then she has been elected as an MP ten times, holding several significant governmental roles. Despite earlier defeats for the LDP leadership, she triumphed this year, positioning herself to become Japan's first female prime minister.
As a staunch conservative, Takaichi has opposed legislative changes on women's rights and same-sex marriage, but she has evolved her policies to support family care initiatives and childrearing services. She is committed to reviving Shinzo Abe's economic policies while addressing the needs of Japan’s rapidly aging population.
With the Liberal Democratic Party facing discontent among voters, Takaichi's election is seen as a strategic move to recapture conservative supporters. She is expected to be confirmed as prime minister in the coming weeks, initiating a new chapter in Japan's political landscape.
