The right-wing Japan Restoration Party has announced its support for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and will allow Sanae Takaichi to become its leader.
Published October 20, 2025 October 20, 2025
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As the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) prepares to conclude a coalition agreement, hard-line conservative Sanae Takaichi appears to be expected to become Japan’s first female prime minister.
Hirofumi Yoshimura, co-leader of the Nippon Ishin no Kai, known as Ishin, said Monday that his right-wing party stands ready to support Takaichi as prime minister and can provide the support the Liberal Democratic Party needs to stay in power.
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The Liberal Democratic Party appeared on the verge of losing power as Japan’s parliament convened an extraordinary session to vote on the next prime minister on Tuesday.
Yoshimura told reporters in Osaka at the 11 a.m. announcement, “I told Mr. Takaichi that we should move forward together.” He added that he plans to meet with Takaichi at 6:00 p.m. local time (9:00 p.m. Japan time) and sign the agreement.
The agreement clears the way for Takaichi to win Tuesday’s vote, replacing incumbent Shigeru Ishiba, who resigned.
If Takaichi wins the parliamentary vote, he will become prime minister, replacing the incumbent Shigeru Ishiba, who resigned. [File: Jiji Press/AFP]
political turmoil
Takaichi, 64, a hawkish member of the right-wing party, was appointed leader of the Liberal Democratic Party earlier this month.
Her bid to become Japan’s first female prime minister suffered a setback when the centrist Komeito party ended its 26-year alliance with the Liberal Democratic Party.
The move plunged the country into a political crisis just days after Takaichi was elected president of the Liberal Democratic Party.
The Buddhist-backed Komeito Party claimed that the Liberal Democratic Party had failed to tighten funding regulations in the wake of the slush fund scandal. He was also perturbed by Takaichi’s ultra-conservative positions, including a history of harsh remarks toward China, even though he has toned it down recently.
The agreement between the Liberal Democratic Party and Ishin brings the total number of seats in the House of Representatives to 231, two seats short of a majority, meaning the new coalition government will still need support from other parties to pass legislation.
However, if the vote to replace Ishiba goes to a second round of runoff elections, Takaichi will only need the support of more councilors than other candidates.
Women’s reactions are slow
Even though Takaichi appeared poised to break the glass ceiling and become the first female prime minister, many Japanese women did not celebrate her rise.
“The prospect of having the first female prime minister does not make me happy,” sociologist Chizuko Ueno wrote in a post on X, adding that her leadership “does not mean that Japanese politics will become more women-friendly.”
Mainichi Shimbun political commentator Chiyako Sato said that Takaichi’s policies are “extremely hawkish, and I don’t think he will consider policies that recognize diversity.”
