Overview
- In her first policy address, Japan’s prime minister said the government will act decisively against violations by visitors while rejecting xenophobia and acknowledging sectors need immigrant labor.
- Takaichi said she wants to accelerate military outlays to 2% of GDP in the current fiscal year, citing activities by China, North Korea and Russia.
- She plans to deepen ties with the United States and will meet President Donald Trump in Tokyo on Sunday.
- The Diet confirmed Takaichi on October 21 as Japan’s first woman prime minister, days after she became the Liberal Democratic Party’s first woman leader.
- On taking office she named Katayama Satsuki as finance minister, the first woman in the role, and reiterated conservative priorities including reviving Abenomics and boosting investment in AI and semiconductors.