• Sanae Takaichi has been elected as Japan's first female prime minister, winning 237 votes in parliament.
• She leads a minority government formed through a coalition with the right-wing Japan Innovation Party.
• Takaichi faces significant economic challenges, including rising prices and public frustration over inflation.
• Despite her historic election, Takaichi's views on gender issues have raised concerns about her commitment to women’s rights.
• She is a supporter of nationalist policies and has been characterized as a "China hawk."

Japan's parliament has elected Sanae Takaichi as the nation’s first female prime minister, marking a significant milestone in the country's political history. Takaichi secured 237 votes in the lower house, four more than the majority required, and has taken over from Shigeru Ishiba, who resigned following a poor electoral performance by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in July. This change brings an end to a three-month political vacuum characterized by intense internal struggles within the party, according to Reuters and South China Morning Post.

Takaichi's premiership comes after a last-minute coalition deal with the Japan Innovation Party, a right-wing group aiming to address the shifting political landscape following the departure of the LDP’s long-term coalition partner, the Buddhist-backed Komeito, which voiced concerns about the LDP's governance. This coalition came after the LDP, which has dominated Japanese politics for decades, experienced significant setbacks, as articulated in reports from Bloomberg, Africa News, and NPR.

As Takaichi steps into her new role, she faces pressing economic issues, including rising living costs that have fueled public dissatisfaction. She is being called to implement immediate strategies to bolster Japan's economy and address inflation ahead of her first major policy speech scheduled for later this week, as highlighted by sources such as Los Angeles Times and Channel News Asia.

Despite her historic win, Takaichi's conservative policies have raised eyebrows, particularly regarding their implications for gender equality. Critics point out that her positions often contradict the advancement of women's rights, as she opposes same-sex marriage and male-preference succession in the imperial family. Her appointment of only two women to her Cabinet further complicates her image as a champion for gender issues, according to insights from India Times, Japan Times, and The Hill.

Her nationalist perspective and alignment with the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's policies suggest a potential shift towards more hawkish stances on foreign relations, especially with China and Korea. She aims to reinforce Japan's military capabilities to respond to regional security challenges, as discussed by Al Jazeera and BBC.