{"id":15161,"date":"2026-02-06T03:37:15","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T03:37:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/not-from-central-casting-japans-unconventional-leader-puts-it-all-on-the-line\/"},"modified":"2026-02-06T03:37:15","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T03:37:15","slug":"not-from-central-casting-japans-unconventional-leader-puts-it-all-on-the-line","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/not-from-central-casting-japans-unconventional-leader-puts-it-all-on-the-line\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Not from central casting\u2019: Japan\u2019s unconventional leader puts it all on the line"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<div data-testid=\"ad-sticky-container\" class=\"sc-dfb011b6-0 dncfJv\">\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"sc-54c4a04e-0 fMIAOk adWrapper noPrint sc-1c01c11e-0 iEpzep\" data-testid=\"ad\"><small class=\"sc-54c4a04e-2 kRjajv\">Advertisement<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<header class=\"sc-12aa4a36-0 gQVHPI\">\n<div class=\"sc-5cbbddda-0 cRMyzw\">\n<div data-testid=\"article-author\" class=\"sc-5cbbddda-1 kekTYX\" readability=\"4.3875\">\n<div readability=\"5.4\">\n<p data-testid=\"article-datetime\" class=\"sc-5cbbddda-5 jMFiFd\"><span class=\"sc-a243f860-0 dLDTDi\"><time data-testid=\"storytile-timestamp\" datetime=\"2026-02-06T05:00:00+11:00\">February 6, 2026<!-- --> &mdash; 5:00am<\/time><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-7132c98c-0 hMrcSL noPrint\" data-testid=\"article-actions\">\n<div class=\"sc-7132c98c-1 cbqDrw\">\n<div class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-0 cGFoDo\" readability=\"8.5431472081218\"><button aria-checked=\"false\" aria-label=\"Save article to read later\" role=\"switch\" type=\"button\" class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-1 bYQiGM\"><svg fill=\"none\" height=\"24\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"24\" class=\"sc-d1b14060-0 bRyYMS\"><path d=\"M5.75 4C5.75 3.86193 5.86193 3.75 6 3.75H18C18.1381 3.75 18.25 3.86193 18.25 4L18.25 19.7709L12.8004 16.9682C12.2981 16.7099 11.7019 16.7099 11.1996 16.9682L5.75 19.7709L5.75 4Z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-2 bBuibL\">Save<\/span><\/button>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"sc-ba6ddcd9-0 bnZsbn sc-d1b14060-3 bnLMbo\" role=\"tooltip\" readability=\"8.0816326530612\">\n<p class=\"sc-d1b14060-4 NcyxX\">You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n<p>Remove items from your saved list to add more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"sc-ba6ddcd9-0 dpTpUw sc-369d9219-0 ipWbwh\" role=\"tooltip\" readability=\"9\">\n<p class=\"sc-369d9219-1 eGTSJh\">Save this article for later<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-369d9219-2 crcSSW\">Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime.<\/p>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"sc-3f16ee48-0 sc-3f16ee48-6 sc-369d9219-3 dXbfCd gDnvwr gxYZHU\">Got it<\/button><\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"internal-linking-related-contents\"><a href=\"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/12-weeks-jail-for-school-it-support-technician-who-took-upskirt-videos-of-teachers\/\" class=\"template-1\"><span class=\"cta\">News :<\/span><span class=\"postTitle\">&lt;div&gt;12 weeks' jail for school IT support technician who took upskirt videos of teachers&lt;\/div&gt;<\/span><\/a><\/div><p><button aria-label=\"Set font size to normal\" aria-pressed=\"true\" class=\"sc-f7fd8257-1 fKewKr\">A<\/button><button aria-label=\"Set font size to larger\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"sc-f7fd8257-1 kfmQUR\">A<\/button><button aria-label=\"Set font size to very large\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"sc-f7fd8257-1 kfmPpl\">A<\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<aside class=\"sc-67b869c7-6 cFwlqx\"><\/aside>\n<div class=\"sc-80607c67-0 byCHjx\" readability=\"27\">\n<p><strong>Singapore:<\/strong> As she campaigns across Japan, its clear the Sanae Takaichi effect is in full flight. After years of Japanese elite politics being defined by po-faced men, Takaichi is a beaming, dynamic break from the past.<\/p>\n<p>Her campaign posters show her smiling with her hand outstretched, as though beckoning voters to join her &ndash; a stark contrast with the stern headshots of the dynastic male leaders who have defined Japanese politics for decades.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"sc-4820f69c-1 fhsnES\"><button aria-label=\"enlarge image\" type=\"button\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-5 bsFdcS\">\n<div class=\"sc-d34e428-0 bXqpHm\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.378%2C$multiply_0.9841%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/aec13f35b3bc9bb5f2c9f2c5908ca40202fab1f8, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.378%2C$multiply_1.9683%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/aec13f35b3bc9bb5f2c9f2c5908ca40202fab1f8 2x\"><source media=\"(min-width: 750px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.378%2C$multiply_1.0159%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/aec13f35b3bc9bb5f2c9f2c5908ca40202fab1f8, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.378%2C$multiply_2.0317%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/aec13f35b3bc9bb5f2c9f2c5908ca40202fab1f8 2x\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Sanae Takaichi, Japan&rsquo;s prime minister, is  putting her popularity to the test with a bold political gambit. \" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/%24zoom_0.378,%24multiply_0.7725,%24ratio_1.5,%24width_756,%24x_0,%24y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86,f_auto\/aec13f35b3bc9bb5f2c9f2c5908ca40202fab1f8\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.378%2C$multiply_0.7725%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/aec13f35b3bc9bb5f2c9f2c5908ca40202fab1f8, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.378%2C$multiply_1.545%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/aec13f35b3bc9bb5f2c9f2c5908ca40202fab1f8 2x\" class=\"sc-d34e428-1 bnWZMz\"><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 38 38\" height=\"38px\" width=\"38px\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-4 eROwEo\"><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 22.029383, 7.619553)\"><path d=\"M1 8l6.36396103-6.36396103M8 7V1H2\"><\/path><\/g><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 7.0731, 21.523087)\"><path d=\"M8 1L1.63603897 7.36396103M1 2v6h6\"><\/path><\/g><\/svg><\/p><\/button><figcaption data-testid=\"figure-caption\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-0 hMRMLa\"><span>Sanae Takaichi, Japan&rsquo;s prime minister, is  putting her popularity to the test with a bold political gambit. <\/span><cite class=\"sc-4820f69c-2 jnumBu\"><span class=\"sc-4820f69c-3 jkEJCb\">Bloomberg<\/span><\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Her gregariousness offers a counterbalance to her staunchly conservative views on a whole range of issues from national security and defence, immigration and women&rsquo;s rights. And it seems to be broadening her appeal.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This projection of friendliness and strength is really working,&rdquo; says Dr Jeffrey Hall, a Japanese politics expert at Kanda University of International Studies.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"sc-54c4a04e-0 hBgktT adWrapper noPrint sc-67b869c7-3 gsRMal\" data-testid=\"ad\"><small class=\"sc-54c4a04e-2 kRjajv\">Advertisement<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-80607c67-0 byCHjx\" readability=\"26\">\n<div class=\"internal-linking-related-contents\"><a href=\"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/migrant-acquitted-in-first-trial-over-us-border-military-zones\/\" class=\"template-1\"><span class=\"cta\">News :<\/span><span class=\"postTitle\">Migrant acquitted in first trial over US border military zones<\/span><\/a><\/div><p>&ldquo;There has been a creation of almost a fan culture around Takaichi, where people treat her like a celebrity or an idol, and they are really just focused on her personally, rather than the politics that she represents.<\/p>\n<p>In particular, Takaichi is resonating with younger voters &ndash; a notoriously hard-to-reach cohort who could be expected to be turned off by her old-fashion values. Instead, some polls have her support levels at nearly 90 per cent in the 18-29 age group.<\/p>\n<p>Takaichi&rsquo;s media savviness has won plaudits among the online generations, where videos of her drumming K-pop songs with South Korea&rsquo;s president Lee Jae Myung have gone viral. Her signature black tote handbag and pink pen have sold out as people have rushed to copy her style.<\/p>\n<p>On Sunday, Takaichi will find out if her great election gamble on her popularity has paid off.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"sc-54c4a04e-0 hBgktT adWrapper noPrint sc-67b869c7-3 gsRMal\" data-testid=\"ad\"><small class=\"sc-54c4a04e-2 kRjajv\">Advertisement<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-80607c67-0 byCHjx\" readability=\"27\">\n<p>Takaichi called a snap lower house election on January 23, just three months after becoming prime minister, and set the vote for February 8 &ndash; the shortest campaign window in Japan&rsquo;s postwar history.<\/p>\n<p>It&rsquo;s an election motivated by politics above policy, and one goal in particular: strengthening her grip on power by winning back her Liberal Democratic Party&rsquo;s majority in the parliament. In both houses, the party&rsquo;s dominance had been frittered away by her male predecessors who failed to stop voters&rsquo; retreat after years of political financing scandals plagued the LDP.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"sc-4820f69c-1 fhsnES\"><button aria-label=\"enlarge image\" type=\"button\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-5 bsFdcS\">\n<div class=\"sc-d34e428-0 bXqpHm\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.369%2C$multiply_0.9841%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/35249f46fdf9f1d2eba6946a8213c8fe6660d117, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.369%2C$multiply_1.9683%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/35249f46fdf9f1d2eba6946a8213c8fe6660d117 2x\"><source media=\"(min-width: 750px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.369%2C$multiply_1.0159%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/35249f46fdf9f1d2eba6946a8213c8fe6660d117, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.369%2C$multiply_2.0317%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/35249f46fdf9f1d2eba6946a8213c8fe6660d117 2x\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Takaichi with then PM Shinzo Abe, centre, in 2014. She has taken a leaf from his economic policies.\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/%24zoom_0.369,%24multiply_0.7725,%24ratio_1.5,%24width_756,%24x_0,%24y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86,f_auto\/35249f46fdf9f1d2eba6946a8213c8fe6660d117\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.369%2C$multiply_0.7725%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/35249f46fdf9f1d2eba6946a8213c8fe6660d117, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.369%2C$multiply_1.545%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/35249f46fdf9f1d2eba6946a8213c8fe6660d117 2x\" class=\"sc-d34e428-1 bnWZMz\"><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 38 38\" height=\"38px\" width=\"38px\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-4 eROwEo\"><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 22.029383, 7.619553)\"><path d=\"M1 8l6.36396103-6.36396103M8 7V1H2\"><\/path><\/g><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 7.0731, 21.523087)\"><path d=\"M8 1L1.63603897 7.36396103M1 2v6h6\"><\/path><\/g><\/svg><\/p><\/button><figcaption data-testid=\"figure-caption\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-0 hMRMLa\"><span>Takaichi with then PM Shinzo Abe, centre, in 2014. She has taken a leaf from his economic policies.<\/span><cite class=\"sc-4820f69c-2 jnumBu\"><span class=\"sc-4820f69c-3 jkEJCb\">Getty Images<\/span><\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The party is still on the nose, with support hovering around 30 per cent, meaning Takaichi is banking on her personal approval ratings to drag her team across the line.<\/p>\n<p>A new mandate will free her to pursue her Abenomics agenda of big spending &ndash; channelling her mentor, the late prime minister Shinzo Abe &ndash; coupled with tax cuts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"sc-54c4a04e-0 hBgktT adWrapper noPrint sc-67b869c7-3 gsRMal\" data-testid=\"ad\"><small class=\"sc-54c4a04e-2 kRjajv\">Advertisement<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-80607c67-0 byCHjx\" readability=\"21\">\n<p>She is pitching this approach, dubbed Sanaenomics, as &ldquo;an entirely new set of economic and fiscal policies&rdquo; and banking on it to boost growth and wages, which have been stagnant for two decades.<\/p>\n<p>This includes rolling out a 21.3 trillion yen ($195 billion) stimulus package at a time when Japan already has the world&rsquo;s highest public debt-to-GDP ratio in the world.<\/p>\n<p>It has markets and foreign investors jittery.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-testid=\"pull-quote\" class=\"sc-e5732b89-0 bkHEmd\" readability=\"5\">\n<p>A core part of Takaichi&rsquo;s personal appeal is that she is not from central casting.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Takaichi currently governs through a razor-thin coalition majority with the LDP&rsquo;s junior partner, the Japan Innovation Party.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"sc-54c4a04e-0 hBgktT adWrapper noPrint sc-67b869c7-3 gsRMal\" data-testid=\"ad\"><small class=\"sc-54c4a04e-2 kRjajv\">Advertisement<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-80607c67-0 byCHjx\" readability=\"25.203142536476\">\n<p>There were early signs that voters saw her election gambit as a cynical power grab, with her approval ratings of 70 per cent taking a dip after she dissolved the parliament.<\/p>\n<p>But on Monday, a major poll by Japanese newspaper <em>Asahi Shimbun <\/em>of 370,000 respondents put her ruling Coalition on track for a landslide victory.<\/p>\n<aside data-testid=\"related-story\" class=\"sc-4dc7bff5-0 QbJUT\">\n<h2 data-testid=\"related-story-heading\" class=\"sc-4dc7bff5-1 fNPBEP\">Related Article<\/h2>\n<div data-an-position=\"1\" imagepositions=\"top\" data-testid=\"story-tile\" class=\"sc-679b6ed4-0 cMGLSH\">\n<figure imagesizes=\"[object Object]\" class=\"sc-8825a2fb-0 hUTlgn\">\n<div class=\"sc-d34e428-0 bXqpHm\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.248%2C$multiply_0.2805%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_20%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/d6108f5f0764cf03b6628e79ee6bdef7efdb67ab, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.248%2C$multiply_0.5609%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_20%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/d6108f5f0764cf03b6628e79ee6bdef7efdb67ab 2x\"><source media=\"(min-width: 750px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.248%2C$multiply_0.2842%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_20%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/d6108f5f0764cf03b6628e79ee6bdef7efdb67ab, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.248%2C$multiply_0.5685%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_20%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/d6108f5f0764cf03b6628e79ee6bdef7efdb67ab 2x\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Illustration by Joe Benke\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/%24zoom_0.248,%24multiply_0.5127,%24ratio_1.777778,%24width_1059,%24x_20,%24y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86,f_auto\/d6108f5f0764cf03b6628e79ee6bdef7efdb67ab\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.248%2C$multiply_0.5127%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_20%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/d6108f5f0764cf03b6628e79ee6bdef7efdb67ab, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.248%2C$multiply_1.0255%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_20%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/d6108f5f0764cf03b6628e79ee6bdef7efdb67ab 2x\" class=\"sc-d34e428-1 jiJqza\"><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Together with its coalition partner, the LDP is in reach of winning more than 300 seats, while the LDP itself could secure a standalone majority.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If Takaichi gets this majority on her own, it would be a tremendous victory for her, a tremendous turnaround for the LDP, which has been in decline in recent years, and it would put her down in history as this very politically successful first female prime minister,&rdquo; Hall said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"sc-54c4a04e-0 hBgktT adWrapper noPrint sc-67b869c7-3 gsRMal\" data-testid=\"ad\"><small class=\"sc-54c4a04e-2 kRjajv\">Advertisement<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-80607c67-0 byCHjx\" readability=\"36\">\n<p>A bid by Japan&rsquo;s main opposition forces to unite and form a new party, called The Centrist Reform Alliance, to take on Takaichi&rsquo;s government appears to be floundering, with more than half of its 167 seats at risk.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;[The] poll suggests that every factor that needed to break in Takaichi&rsquo;s favour is in fact breaking in her favour,&rdquo; Tobias Harris, who runs Japan Foresight, a political risk advisory firm, said in a note to subscribers this week.<\/p>\n<p>However, there are still some variables that could constrain the size of the LDP&rsquo;s victory, including the weather. It&rsquo;s rare for a Japanese election to be held in the middle of winter, and snow is projected to fall across the country on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;That means that voter turnout is going to be tricky,&rdquo; said Kenneth McElwain, a politics professor at the University of Tokyo.<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;In most of the major newspaper surveys, 40 to 50 per cent of voters said they have not made up their minds. These are the conditions under which weather can make a difference.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"sc-54c4a04e-0 hBgktT adWrapper noPrint sc-67b869c7-3 gsRMal\" data-testid=\"ad\"><small class=\"sc-54c4a04e-2 kRjajv\">Advertisement<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-80607c67-0 byCHjx\" readability=\"29\">\n<p>A core part of Takaichi&rsquo;s personal appeal is that she is not from central casting. She grew up in a middle-class home and is not a hereditary MP like many of her LDP colleagues who hail from dynastic political families. Instead, the one-time drummer in a metal band climbed her way up through the party ranks, firming her image as a self-made woman.<\/p>\n<p>She has also softened her hard-nosed conservatism with a quirky approachability, particularly on the world stage.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"sc-4820f69c-1 fhsnES\"><button aria-label=\"enlarge image\" type=\"button\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-5 bsFdcS\">\n<div class=\"sc-d34e428-0 bXqpHm\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.151%2C$multiply_0.9841%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/9ee4b526d2c3ecf6f6aa5cd0b6467047e4d1f6f2, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.151%2C$multiply_1.9683%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/9ee4b526d2c3ecf6f6aa5cd0b6467047e4d1f6f2 2x\"><source media=\"(min-width: 750px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.151%2C$multiply_1.0159%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/9ee4b526d2c3ecf6f6aa5cd0b6467047e4d1f6f2, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.151%2C$multiply_2.0317%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/9ee4b526d2c3ecf6f6aa5cd0b6467047e4d1f6f2 2x\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (right) is popular with younger voters, in part due to her willingness to break the mould with acts like drumming KPop songs with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (left).\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/%24zoom_0.151,%24multiply_0.7725,%24ratio_1.5,%24width_756,%24x_0,%24y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86,f_auto\/9ee4b526d2c3ecf6f6aa5cd0b6467047e4d1f6f2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.151%2C$multiply_0.7725%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/9ee4b526d2c3ecf6f6aa5cd0b6467047e4d1f6f2, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.151%2C$multiply_1.545%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/9ee4b526d2c3ecf6f6aa5cd0b6467047e4d1f6f2 2x\" class=\"sc-d34e428-1 bnWZMz\"><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 38 38\" height=\"38px\" width=\"38px\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-4 eROwEo\"><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 22.029383, 7.619553)\"><path d=\"M1 8l6.36396103-6.36396103M8 7V1H2\"><\/path><\/g><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 7.0731, 21.523087)\"><path d=\"M8 1L1.63603897 7.36396103M1 2v6h6\"><\/path><\/g><\/svg><\/p><\/button><figcaption data-testid=\"figure-caption\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-0 hMRMLa\"><span>Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (right) is popular with younger voters, in part due to her willingness to break the mould with acts like drumming KPop songs with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (left).<\/span><cite class=\"sc-4820f69c-2 jnumBu\"><span class=\"sc-4820f69c-3 jkEJCb\">AP<\/span><\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In her few short months as prime minister &ndash; a role she narrowly won in an internal ballot after then-leader Shigeru Ishiba stepped down &ndash; she has hosted an array of world leaders with a distinctive, headline-grabbing flair.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to drumming with South Korea&rsquo;s leader, she sang happy birthday to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and took selfies with her, gave UK prime minister Keir Starmer gifts for Number 10&rsquo;s resident &ldquo;chief mouser&rdquo; Larry, and appealed to US President Donald Trump&rsquo;s golfing penchant with gifts of clubs owned by Shinzo Abe.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"sc-54c4a04e-0 hBgktT adWrapper noPrint sc-67b869c7-3 gsRMal\" data-testid=\"ad\"><small class=\"sc-54c4a04e-2 kRjajv\">Advertisement<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-80607c67-0 byCHjx\" readability=\"18.712029161604\">\n<p>There are also signs that her ongoing feud with China, triggered by her comments suggesting Japan could intervene in a conflict over Taiwan, has bolstered her support domestically, positioning her as leader prepared to take on a bullying neighbour.<\/p>\n<aside data-testid=\"related-story\" class=\"sc-4dc7bff5-0 QbJUT\">\n<h2 data-testid=\"related-story-heading\" class=\"sc-4dc7bff5-1 fNPBEP\">Related Article<\/h2>\n<div data-an-position=\"1\" imagepositions=\"top\" data-testid=\"story-tile\" class=\"sc-679b6ed4-0 cMGLSH\">\n<figure imagesizes=\"[object Object]\" class=\"sc-8825a2fb-0 hUTlgn\">\n<div class=\"sc-d34e428-0 bXqpHm\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.1324%2C$multiply_0.2805%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/13a365f8c4c1cf398895755fd9ffb330c08d7724, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.1324%2C$multiply_0.5609%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/13a365f8c4c1cf398895755fd9ffb330c08d7724 2x\"><source media=\"(min-width: 750px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.1324%2C$multiply_0.2842%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/13a365f8c4c1cf398895755fd9ffb330c08d7724, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.1324%2C$multiply_0.5685%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/13a365f8c4c1cf398895755fd9ffb330c08d7724 2x\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Japan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi faces monster-sized economic challenges.\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/%24zoom_0.1324,%24multiply_0.5127,%24ratio_1.777778,%24width_1059,%24x_0,%24y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86,f_auto\/13a365f8c4c1cf398895755fd9ffb330c08d7724\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.1324%2C$multiply_0.5127%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/13a365f8c4c1cf398895755fd9ffb330c08d7724, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.1324%2C$multiply_1.0255%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/13a365f8c4c1cf398895755fd9ffb330c08d7724 2x\" class=\"sc-d34e428-1 jiJqza\"><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>But beyond the highly orchestrated diplomatic viral moments, Takaichi&rsquo;s governing chops have barely been tested due to her short time at the helm.<\/p>\n<p>Faced with a struggling economy, a feeble yen and voters stressed by rising food and energy costs, she has pledged to suspend the 8 per cent consumption tax rate on food products for two years without outlining a plan to make up the 5 trillion yen ($45.8 billion) in lost revenue.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"sc-54c4a04e-0 hBgktT adWrapper noPrint sc-67b869c7-3 gsRMal\" data-testid=\"ad\"><small class=\"sc-54c4a04e-2 kRjajv\">Advertisement<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-80607c67-0 byCHjx\" readability=\"14.114068441065\">\n<p>Other major parties are also proposing to slash or cut the tax entirely. This sent Japanese government bond yields surging to record highs last month as investors baulked at the debt required to fund it.<\/p>\n<p>A year from now, Japanese voters might not be so rosy on Sanaenomics. The question is how willing they will be on Sunday to take that bet and decisively hand her the reins.<\/p>\n<p><b><i>Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what&rsquo;s making headlines around the world. <\/i><\/b><b><i>Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter<\/i><\/b><b><i>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"article-footer\" class=\"sc-780f6c39-0 gMidPz\">\n<div class=\"sc-780f6c39-1 bXzMFW noPrint\">\n<div class=\"sc-780f6c39-2 fDvLNJ\">\n<div class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-0 cGFoDo sc-780f6c39-3 csnzsK\" readability=\"6.3137254901961\"><button aria-checked=\"false\" aria-label=\"Save article to read later\" role=\"switch\" type=\"button\" class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-1 bYQiGM\"><svg fill=\"none\" height=\"24\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"24\" class=\"sc-d1b14060-0 bRyYMS\"><path d=\"M5.75 4C5.75 3.86193 5.86193 3.75 6 3.75H18C18.1381 3.75 18.25 3.86193 18.25 4L18.25 19.7709L12.8004 16.9682C12.2981 16.7099 11.7019 16.7099 11.1996 16.9682L5.75 19.7709L5.75 4Z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-2 bBuibL\">Save<\/span><\/button>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"sc-ba6ddcd9-0 BgjOX sc-d1b14060-3 bnLMbo\" role=\"tooltip\" readability=\"8.0816326530612\">\n<p class=\"sc-d1b14060-4 NcyxX\">You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n<p>Remove items from your saved list to add more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-b5b9fd03-0 ckGUXQ\">\n<div class=\"sc-b5b9fd03-1 iROwGF\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Lisa Visentin\" data-testid=\"author-avatar-image\" height=\"40\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/w_40,h_40,c_fill,g_auto:faces\/q_86,f_auto\/e3b83e0cc0bded1ebecd9a7d4ebf56f2e94e07b8\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/w_40,h_40,c_fill,g_auto:faces\/q_86,f_auto\/e3b83e0cc0bded1ebecd9a7d4ebf56f2e94e07b8, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/w_80%2Ch_80%2Cc_fill%2Cg_auto:faces\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/e3b83e0cc0bded1ebecd9a7d4ebf56f2e94e07b8 2x\" width=\"40\" class=\"sc-9a01536c-0 cJPmxL\"><span data-testid=\"author-bio\" class=\"sc-b5b9fd03-3 iaHQXJ\"><span>Lisa Visentin is the North Asia correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. She was previously a federal political reporter based in Canberra.<\/span><span class=\"sc-b5b9fd03-4 jVqFia\">Connect via X<span> or <\/span>email.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"sc-3dbe4134-0 eKUqbd sc-df8e6ee0-0 noPrint\" data-an-name=\"From our partners\" data-an-cu-group=\"everything\" data-an-cu-name=\"From our partners\" data-an-cu-position=\"4\" data-testid=\"from-our-partners-strap\">\n<header class=\"sc-84567ec1-0 ea-dUAB\">\n<h2 data-pb-type=\"hi\" class=\"sc-84567ec1-1 qhIfr\"><span>From our partners<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"sc-df8e6ee0-1 dKvVOU\">\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"sc-54c4a04e-0 hgOejj adWrapper noPrint sc-df8e6ee0-2 aNDAi\" data-testid=\"ad\"><small class=\"sc-54c4a04e-2 kRjajv\">Advertisement<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"sc-54c4a04e-0 hgOejj adWrapper noPrint sc-df8e6ee0-3 gRrJfI\" data-testid=\"ad\"><small class=\"sc-54c4a04e-2 kRjajv\">Advertisement<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<p><sub>&lsquo;Not from central casting&rsquo;: Japan&rsquo;s unconventional leader puts it all on the line<\/sub><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Advertisement February 6, 2026 &mdash; 5:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it News :&lt;div&gt;12 weeks&#8217; jail for school IT support technician who took&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"more-link-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/not-from-central-casting-japans-unconventional-leader-puts-it-all-on-the-line\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &ldquo;\u2018Not from central casting\u2019: Japan\u2019s unconventional leader puts it all on the line&rdquo;<\/span> &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15162,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15161","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15161","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15161"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15161\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15162"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15161"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15161"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15161"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}