TOKYO: Japanese Premier Sanae Takaichi said Monday that the public saw an &quot;urgent need&quot; for major reform after a historic election landslide, pledging to boost the country&#39;s defences in order to protect its territory. Sunday&#39;s snap vote saw Takaichi&#39;s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) win a two-thirds majority in the lower house for the first time in its history, capitalizing on her strong popularity since taking office in October. The outcome allows Japan&#39;s first woman prime minister to stamp her mark on the country of 123 million people over the next four years, having pledged to boost the economy and get tough on immigration. &quot;This is the start of a heavy, heavy responsibility to make Japan stronger, more prosperous,&quot; Takaichi, 64, told a news conference on Monday. &quot;We believe that the public has shown understanding and sympathy regarding our appeals concerning the urgent need for a major policy shift,&quot; she said. The admirer of &quot;Iron Lady&quot; Margaret Thatcher also said she would bolster Japan&#39;s defences, including by creating a new intelligence bureau and revising key security policy documents. &quot;No one will come to the aid of a nation that lacks the resolve to defend itself with its own hands,&quot; Takaichi said. &quot;We will steadfastly protect our nation&#39;s peace and independence, our territory, territorial waters, airspace, and the lives and safety of our citizens,&quot; she added. Such comments are likely to go down badly in China, especially after Takaichi suggested in November that Japan could intervene militarily if Beijing sought to seize Taiwan by force. China, which regards the democratic island as part of its territory and has not ruled out force to annex it, was furious. On Monday, a spokesman for China&#39;s foreign ministry again urged Japan to retract the comments. Beijing warned Tokyo that &quot;reckless&quot; actions would be met with a &quot;resolute response from the international community.&quot; &quot;Our nation is open to various dialogues with China. We already have exchanges of views. We will continue the exchanges of views. But we will deal with them in calm and appropriate ways,&quot; Takaichi said. HoneymoonCapitalizing on her honeymoon start after becoming Japan&#39;s fifth premier in as many years in October, Takaichi called the snap election last month. The gamble paid off, with the LDP winning around 316 of the 465 seats contested, according to Japanese media. That takes the party past the 310-seat threshold needed for a two-thirds majority for the first time in its history and may prompt the government to try and make changes to the country&#39;s constitution. US President Donald Trump -- who is due to host Takaichi in Washington next month -- congratulated her after an earlier endorsement. &quot;I wish you Great Success in passing your Conservative, Peace Through Strength Agenda,&quot; Trump wrote on Truth Social. Takaichi said that the talks on March 19 will &quot;reaffirm the unshakeable unity between Japan and the United States&quot;. DrummerA heavy metal drummer in her youth, Takaichi was on the ultra-conservative fringe of the LDP when she became party chief. Despite being her country&#39;s first woman premier, Takaichi has shown little appetite for framing her leadership around gender in male-dominated Japanese politics. She has been a hit with voters, especially young ones, with fans lapping up everything from her handbag to her jamming to a K-pop song with South Korea&#39;s president. But she will have to deliver on the economy to remain popular. &quot;With prices rising like this, what matters most to me is what policies they&#39;ll adopt to deal with inflation,&quot; voter Chika Sakamoto, 50, told AFP on Sunday. But helping households could make markets jittery about Japan&#39;s colossal debts, which are more than twice the size of the economy. This was shown by yields on long-dated Japanese bonds hitting record highs during the election campaign after Takaichi floated the idea of suspending the food tax. Tokyo&#39;s Nikkei index of stocks jumped more than 5% early Monday and closed 3.9% higher. Takaichi reiterated on Sunday her mantra of having a &quot;responsible&quot; fiscal policy but added that she wanted &quot;to build a strong and resilient economy.&quot; &quot;In reality, the policies of a Takaichi administration are unlikely to curb the inflation that voters expect her to address,&quot; said Tetsuo Kotani at the Japan Institute of International Affairs. &quot;An income tax hike linked to increased defense spending will also be unavoidable. If these policies lead to a triple decline in stocks, the yen, and government bonds, people&#39;s lives will become even more difficult,&quot; Kotani told AFP. Pakistan PM facilitates TakaichiPrime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday congratulated Sanae Takaichi on her re-election as Japan&#39;s prime minister.&nbsp; &quot;We look forward to continue working with Prime Minister Takaichi to further strengthen and diversify our excellent bilateral relations with Japan,&quot; the prime minister wrote on his official X handle. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 344px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2020754408943058966&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=bc1cdc1101a45a76f68e837f9c3424005a377066&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2020754408943058966"></iframe></div></div>

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), speaks during a press conference at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo on February 9, 2026.

Asia

The outcome allows Japan's first woman prime minister to stamp her mark on the country of 123 million people over the next four years, having pledged to boost the economy and get tough on immigration.

Japan PM Takaichi basks in historic election triumph

<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bangkok: Japan&rsquo;s Nikkei stock index jumped nearly 5% on Monday and the yen weakened after its ruling party chose an ultra-conservative as its leader and likely first woman prime minister. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Other Asian markets also were mostly higher. US futures climbed and oil gained about $1 a barrel. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Liberal Democrats elected Sanae Takaichi, an ally of the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, as their leader, likely ensuring she will carry on with his market-friendly policies. Takaichi, 64, admires former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and backed Abe&rsquo;s ultra-conservative vision for the country. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She is likely to become prime minister because the LDP has the most seats in the lower house, although not a majority. It chooses the prime minister, and opposition groups are splintered. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Takaichi faces a host of challenges that have bedeviled her predecessors, BMI of Fitch Solutions said in a commentary. That includes &ldquo;boosting Japan&rsquo;s economic competitiveness and strengthening the country&rsquo;s technological and industrial base and adopting measures to mitigate the impact of Japan&rsquo;s ageing and declining population amid a colossal public debt burden.&rdquo; <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Still investors, especially non-Japanese ones, were pleased, said Neil Newman, head of strategy at Astris Advisory Japan. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">&ldquo;Obviously investors like what she has been saying and certainly today judging by the number of stocks that moved and which stocks moved, it seems like pretty much led by foreigners so far,&quot; Newman said. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">An unconfirmed report that US President Donald Trump might be considering ways to reduce the cost of his higher tariffs on auto parts and other materials for US manufacturers helped automakers&#39; share prices. Toyota Motor Corp.&#39;s shares jumped 4.9% in Tokyo and Honda Motor Co. gained 4.7%. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Nikkei 225 index rose 4.7% to 47,924.52 by mid-afternoon Monday, while Hong Kong&#39;s Hang Seng index sank 0.6% to 26,976.37. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The yen weakened against the US dollar, on expectations that Takaichi will boost spending, likely adding to inflationary pressures. The dollar rose to 150.31 Japanese yen from 149.33 yen. The euro slipped to $1.1723 from $1.1730. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Australia, the S&amp;P/ASX 200 shed 0.1% to 8,976.70.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Markets in mainland China, Taiwan and South Korea were closed for holidays. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On Friday, most US stocks ticked higher, adding to Wall Street records.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The S&amp;P 500 edged up by less than 0.1% to close out its seventh winning week in the last nine, ending at 6,715.79. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.5% to 46,758.28. Both added to their all-time highs set the day before. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Nasdaq composite lost an early gain and slipped 0.3% from its own record, to 22,780.51. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Usually, the first Friday of each month has Wall Street transfixed on the monthly jobs update that the US government publishes. It shows how many jobs employers created and destroyed, while also updating the unemployment rate. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But the shutdown of the US government, now in its third day, delayed the release of that data. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Such information is particularly important now, given how much on Wall Street is riding on the expectation that the job market is continuing to slow by enough to get the Federal Reserve to keep cutting interest rates. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Past shutdowns of the US government have tended not to hurt the economy or stock market much, and the thinking is that this one could be similar, even if President Donald Trump has threatened large-scale firings of federal workers this time around. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reports came in mixed on activity for US businesses in the health care, real estate and other services industries. One from the Institute for Supply Management said growth is stalling, while another from S&amp;P Global said it&rsquo;s still growing slowly. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In other dealings early Monday, US benchmark crude oil gained 99 cents to $61.87 per barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, added 99 cents to $65.52 per barrel. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A group of countries that are part of the OPEC+ alliance of oil-exporting countries agreed during the weekend to a small boost in oil production, citing a steady global economic outlook. That alleviated fears of an oversupply. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The group said after a virtual meeting on Sunday that it will raise oil production by 137,000 barrels per day in November, the same amount it announced for October. The group has been raising output slightly in a series of boosts all year, after announcing cuts in 2023 and 2024.

People walk by an electronic stock board showing Japan's Nikkei 225 index at a securities firm in Tokyo, Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. (Kyodo News via AP)

Business

Banking

Japan’s Nikkei stock index jumped nearly 5% on Monday and the yen weakened after its ruling party chose an ultra-conservative as its leader and likely first woman prime minister.

Articles tagged with "Takaichi"

Japan PM Takaichi basks in historic election triumph

Japan’s Nikkei jumps 5% after ruling party elects Takaichi leader