Sanae Takaichi has made history as Japan’s first female prime minister, following a decisive vote in parliament on Tuesday (21 October).
Dubbed Japan’s Iron Lady, Takaichi is the leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and is the fourth person to hold the top job since former prime minister Shinzo Abe resigned in 2020, according to the BBC.
A staunch conservative, Takaichi is a supporter of Abe’s economic legacy and a self-proclaimed admirer of Margaret Thatcher — a comparison that has helped earn her the nickname. But her rise to power comes with a set of deeply traditionalist views, including her opposition to same-sex marriage.
Mixed Messages on LGBTQ+ Rights
In 2023, during a discussion around Japan’s LGBT Understanding Promotion bill — a law designed to help prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity — Takaichi said:
“There should be no prejudice against sexual orientation and gender identity.”
However, in contrast to that message, she has also referred to the legalisation of same-sex marriage as a “very difficult problem”.
Takaichi’s position puts her at odds with a growing portion of the Japanese public. According to LGBTQ+ rights platform Equaldex, 72 per cent of Japanese people surveyed in 2023 expressed support for gay marriage.
A Traditionalist Stance on Women’s Rights Too
Takaichi has also voiced opposition to married women keeping their maiden names — despite keeping hers during her two marriages to fellow LDP member Taku Yamamoto.
She claimed that allowing married couples to use different surnames could:
“Destroy the social structure based on family units.”
Her position reflects a broader resistance within her party to reforms around gender equality and family law in Japan.
Japan’s LGBTQ+ Landscape
Although homosexuality is legal in Japan, the country has no ban on conversion therapy and is the only G7 nation where same-sex marriage is still not legal.
Some local governments recognise civil partnerships for same-sex couples, but these arrangements do not grant legal rights such as inheritance, adoption, or even the ability to visit a critically ill partner in hospital, as they are not considered legal family members.
Several courts across Japan have ruled that the government’s refusal to allow same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, though these rulings have yet to lead to legislative change.
