Sanae Takaichi

Sanae Takaichi was born on March 7, 1961, in Nara City, Nara Prefecture, Japan. Her father worked for a related company of Toyota Motor Corporation, and her mother was a police officer in Nara Prefecture. There are no other family members involved in politics. Early in her childhood, she appeared in a photograph taken with her father at Nara Park, illustrating aspects of her early life.

After graduating from high school in 1980, Sanae Takaichi initially attempted entrance exams for Waseda University and Keio University. Due to family financial considerations, she ultimately chose to attend Kobe University, a national institution, where she studied business at the College of Business Administration, graduating in 1984. After graduation, she participated in the 松下政経塾 (Matsushita Institute of Government and Management), a private educational organization founded by industrialist Konosuke Matsushita, as a fifth-generation student. The institute aims to cultivate leaders in Japan’s political and economic spheres and holds influence in contemporary Japanese politics.

In 1987, Takaichi traveled to the United States, working as a researcher in the office of Democratic Congresswoman Pat Schroeder for about a year. She returned to Japan in 1989, graduating from the Matsushita Institute in March of that year, and then began working as a news anchor at TV Asahi. In 1990, she transferred to Fuji Television, hosting morning news programs.

Her political career began in 1992 when she ran for the House of Councillors but was not recognized by the Liberal Democratic Party and was defeated. In July 1993, she ran as an independent candidate for the House of Representatives and was elected with the highest number of votes. She joined the Liberal Party in 1994, which later merged with the New Frontier Party, and was re-elected in 1996. However, due to ideological differences, she left the New Frontier Party in November 1996 and joined the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

Starting in the 2000s, Takaichi gradually became a core figure in government. She experienced an electoral defeat in 2003, but in 2004, she married Taku Yamaguchi, attracting media attention as the “political couple.” In 2005, she was re-elected to the House of Representatives, becoming an important member of the LDP, serving in significant roles such as Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry and Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications. In 2006, she joined Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s cabinet, overseeing Okinawa, science and technology, and measures against declining birthrates, marking her first cabinet appointment.

From 2007 to 2019, she served multiple terms as Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, setting a record for the longest-serving in that position in Japanese history. She supported Shinzo Abe’s 2012 election as LDP President, served as Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications again in 2014, and was re-elected to the House of Representatives for several consecutive terms.

In terms of policies, Takaichi is conservative, emphasizing the importance of traditional Japanese national and family values. She opposes same-sex marriage, actively visits Yasukuni Shrine, and has demonstrated strong right-wing and militarist tendencies. She denies the occurrence of the Nanjing Massacre and dismisses statements like the Murayama Statement on Japan’s wartime actions. She advocates for constitutional revision to strengthen national defense, promoting increased military capabilities and economic security. She maintains a tough stance on China, emphasizing sovereignty and security, and opposes viewpoints related to “comfort women” history.

Regarding her personal life, she married Taku Yamaguchi in 2004, divorced in 2017, and remarried him in 2021. She owns land and property valued at approximately 1.05 million RMB, with savings around 0.5 million RMB, and a loan of about 1.5 million RMB. She has made multiple visits to Yasukuni Shrine, reflecting her militarist and nationalist outlook.

Sanae Takaichi’s performance in politics is closely linked to her family background, educational experiences, and policy positions. As a prominent figure in Japanese politics, she holds a significant place in the Liberal Democratic Party and national policymaking.