Staunch conservative Sanae Takaichi was elected Japan’s first female prime minister by parliament on Tuesday, in a landmark moment for the historically patriarchal country where both politics and workplaces are dominated by older men.

Takaichi steps into the role as Japan faces mounting economic woes and a fractured politics, and just days before Donald Trump is scheduled to visit.

The 64-year old Takaichi, who is a heavy metal drummer and motorcycle enthusiast, grew up in Nara near Osaka. Her arrival at the pinnacle of Japanese politics tops a remarkable rise, from TV presenter to flag bearer of traditional and nationalist ideals.

  • IrateAnteater@sh.itjust.works
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    16 hours ago

    There’s also the situation where for a lot of millennials and younger, western society has been moving leftword for their entire adult lives. When economic issues inevitably show up, the instinct is to blame the group that was seen as in charge, and move yourself in the opposite direction.

    • phdepressed@sh.itjust.works
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      11 hours ago

      See tax cuts, corporate capture of regulation, etc. I don’t know anyone who believes that western society has been moving to the left. Maybe lgbtq acceptance had improved and Obama got a modicum of Healthcare but on the whole the US has been moving right since Reagan and there’s similar for most western nations.

    • grte@lemmy.ca
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      12 hours ago

      western society has been moving leftword for their entire adult lives.

      …Where?