A Trump visit, a creaking coalition and a cost-of-living crisis: Japan’s new PM needs a fast start

<p>Sanae Takaichi has made history but will have little time to settle in before negotiating the pitfalls of rising prices, power struggles and a mercurial US president</p><p>It is hard to overstate the symbolism of Sanae Takaichi’s achievement on Tuesday in becoming <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/20/sanae-takaichi-likely-become-japan-first-female-prime-minister">the first female prime minister</a> of Japan, a country that consistently ranks poorly in global gender equality comparisons, not least in politics and business.</p><p>However, she will have precious little time to savour her historic appointment.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/21/pm-sanae-takaichi-japan-prime-minister">Continue reading...</a>