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.
“Historically patriarchal” — there are contemporary Japanese politicians who argue that the job of women is literally just to be baby making machines. I struggle to imagine how a “hardliner conservative” female politician could fit into that without being extremely hypocritical.
Edit: Yup, as I expected (source: Associated Press)
“Takaichi has been seen as opposed to all the reforms that advocate for better representation and the position of women in society. The soon-to-be Japanese PM has supported the LDP’s view that women should serve as good mothers and wives. She opposes same-sex marriage, male-only imperial succession reforms, and legal changes allowing married couples to keep separate surnames.”
Edit 2: Though I suppose that’s very on brand, given that she apparently idolises Margaret Thatcher
Heavy Metal drummer and motorcycle enthusiast conservative prime minister?
That’s… a thing… to be
Just what the world needed, another nationalist nutjob.
To think Japan could get even more nationalist. They will permanently be out of rice now.
She has openly aspired to be like Margaret Thatcher, the first woman to become British prime minister – known as the “Iron Lady,” a nickname that has since been used for Takaichi herself.
That being said, if you go back 100 years, Japan has only had 7 or so prime ministers that lasted 3 or more years. Most last 1-2 years or less. I’m not sure how much she can change, but its worth watching what new coalitions form with the LDP and also the rise of Sanseito (MAGA inspired Japanese-First party) in future elections.
In plenty parts of the world hardliner conservative is probably a bit left of most of the US gov, but that aside why is this love of brain rotting stagnation spreading so much?
Haha yep. Canada’s far right is like… American democrats. Comparing politics is insane. I can’t believe you can just turn on something like Fox News or Newsmax or whatever on TV, and be advertised prescription drugs along with your racism brainwashing. Canada doesn’t have that stuff, it’s wild.
Aging populations that grew up in an age where the news media could be trusted to hold politicians accountable, are now inundated with billionaire approved lies as fewer and fewer people obtain control over more of the world’s wealth.
In other words they are not tech savvy and don’t try/know how to get better sources of news/information
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.
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.
western society has been moving leftword for their entire adult lives.
…Where?
“Western” in this context generally refers to North America and Europe.
…Where?
Late stage capitalism is because why.
Nationalism hasn’t solved their age gap crisis and done nothing to support or encourage new parents. All countries which support business over people are fascist. Fascism, even when managed like a controlled burn, still destroys the country that embraces it. There is no country on Earth that will survive in the long term siding with moneyed interests over the people because the focus isn’t on improving the people. And the People make the state.
Japan thinks it can build or manage or inspire some kind of change with a new type of leader, a woman. It’s such an archaic and dated idea to celebrate, like it’s been 50 years (almost a whole generation) since many other western countries elected a woman to lead - this isn’t progressing its desperation.
Hard right politics for a hundred years has hollowed out Japan and it will collapse in on itself in the next hundred.
How Japan handles depopulation is going to be studied for the history books.
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Good for Japan I guess? It’s typically the Conservatives who elect women first, because those are usually the ones who so vehemently oppose a woman candidate. It’s a bit of mind fuckery.
Now let’s see if they either set her up for success, or if she’s out sooner than a head of hakusai.
Oh yay it’s the new マーガレット・サッチャー
Female Hitler let’s goooooooo!!!
