Uchikura & Co., LLC

Following Sanae Takaichi’s appointment as prime minister, mainstream domestic and international media have portrayed her as highly conservative and often compared her to Donald Trump. Many commentators are asking whether her leadership signals a rightward shift in Japanese politics.

 

However, since her administration has not yet implemented major policies, it is premature to judge it solely by labels or past statements. It is notable that she is the first prime minister since Shinzo Abe to openly identify as conservative, which helps explain the heightened interest and controversy.

 

Rather than relying on headlines, we should watch her initial policy choices, personnel appointments, and legislative priorities to see how her government will actually operate.

 

As with Trump’s first term, she faces a difficult environment: the Diet and the bureaucratic apparatus include many people with liberal inclinations, so how far she can advance her agenda remains uncertain. While the extent of her achievements is unknown, I wish her success and will observe concrete policy developments with a calm, critical eye.

 

https://en.bloguru.com/ken/541378/us-and-japan-media-reaction-to-new-prime