While Britain recently celebrated the centenary of Margaret Thatcher’s birth, Japan carved its own milestone by appointing Sanae Takaichi as its first female prime minister on Tuesday. Takaichi, who openly admires the “Iron Lady,” has long drawn inspiration from Thatcher’s legacy.

At 64, Takaichi, known for her admiration of Thatcher’s personal and political ethos, was selected by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) during an extraordinary session of Japan’s lower house. She succeeds former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, ushering in a new era following a period of political instability, during which the party lost its majority in the upper house back in July.

After her election, Takaichi acknowledged the challenges ahead, stating, “the tough work starts here.” She committed to rebuilding public trust and bolstering Japan’s security. Over time, Takaichi has expressed her desire to emulate Thatcher’s “strength and womanly warmth.” A pivotal moment in her life was meeting Thatcher in London in 2013, shortly before the former British prime minister’s passing—a meeting she described as transformative.

In a momentous session in Tokyo on October 21, 2025, lawmakers applauded as Takaichi stood to be elected as Japan’s new leader. (Photo credit: Eugene Hoshiko/AP Photo)

Takaichi’s political stance has earned her descriptions in both Japanese and international circles as an ultraconservative and staunch advocate. She supports a fortified defense strategy, maintains a firm stance toward China, and endorses constitutional amendments to broaden the role of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces.

Economically, she praises Abenomics, the policies adopted by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and favors fiscal and monetary stimulus. Abe was Japan’s longest-serving prime minister and was assassinated in 2022 at a campaign rally, two years after leaving office.

“She’s very different from the other people in the Liberal Democratic Party, and that’s why she was selected this time,” said Gordon Chang, author and Asia analyst, in an interview with Fox News Digital. “After losing its upper-house majority, the LDP realized it needed to protect its right flank by electing someone more conservative than in the past — so the Margaret Thatcher comparison does make sense.”

Known for her hawkish stance on China, Takaichi is expected to maintain Japan’s close alignment with the United States. Chang said her election could bolster Washington’s strategic position in Asia, especially as tensions with Beijing remain high.

Left: Newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrives at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo, Japan, Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025. Right: British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher attends a British-French meeting with President François Mitterrand in the United Kingdom, May 5, 1990.  (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko/Photo by Georges De Keerle/Getty Images)

“She’s a hawk on China, and that’s exactly what’s needed right now,” Chang said. “That’s not going to upset President Trump — if anything, it strengthens his hand in dealing with Xi Jinping. It shows America’s alliances are strong and getting stronger.”

Takaichi’s rise has been hailed as a milestone for female representation, though Chang emphasized that her selection was driven more by ideology than identity.

“I don’t think she was chosen because she was a woman,” he said. “She was chosen because the party needed to shore up its right flank — and it just so happened that the most conservative of the possible candidates was a woman.”

U.S. President Donald Trump (L), Vice President JD Vance (C) and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth participate in a meeting with then Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in the Oval Office of the White House on February 07, 2025 in Washington, DC. Shigeru, who took office in October, was the first Asian leader to visit Trump since he returned to the White House. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Even as she breaks barriers herself, Takaichi’s record underscores her conservative social vision. She is among the Japanese politicians who have resisted measures to advance women’s rights, supports the imperial family’s male-only succession, and opposes same-sex marriage as well as allowing separate surnames for married couples.

Like Thatcher, Takaichi rose from outside her country’s political elite. Her mother served in the Nara Prefectural Police, and her father worked for a Toyota-affiliated car company.

Analysts say she now faces the challenge of turning symbolism into substance. Her nationalist positions could heighten friction with China, while her expansive spending plans for the world’s fourth-largest economy will be closely watched by international investors. At the same time, she must prepare to host President Donald Trump, who is expected to visit Japan next week.