When she assumed the leadership of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in October, following the resignation of her unpopular predecessor, the government she inherited was floundering; losing seats, losing trust and struggling to recover from a financial scandal. In the end, there could hardly have been a more decisive endorsement of everything Takaichi stands for: her conservatism, her nationalism, her vision for a more confident, more militarised Japan. It matters not just because of what it says about changing sentiments here - a notable shift to the right - but also because of what it might mean for the stability of this region.
Author: Helen-Ann Smith
Published at: 2026-02-08 20:57:00
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