When Sanae Takaichi was elected president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, there was applause as a woman became Japan¡¯s prime minister for the first time.
There were fears though that Takaichi, relatively inexperienced and self-proclaimed heir to the mantle of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, would be overwhelmed by the job and the expectations surrounding it. Some worried that she was set up for failure as the country struggled with difficulties, both domestic and foreign.
Instead, Takaichi¡¯s performance has surprised most observers. Not only did she take office with sky-high approval ratings, but she has maintained them since October. As the country readies to cast ballots this weekend in a snap election, the LDP is projected not only to prevail but to win a landslide that could allow the party to govern alone or to command a supermajority with its coalition party, the Japan Innovation Party (JIP).
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