Japan’s uncertain path after Takaichi’s big win

(East Asia Forum) Sanae Takaichi led Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party to a historic landslide victory in February 2026, rebranding it as a modern, youth-friendly force and capitalising on her image as Japan’s first female prime minister — even as scandals and coalition ruptures had recently left the party vulnerable. Her mandate rests more on personal appeal and nationalist positioning than on a detailed policy program, with younger voters backing an image of change rather than a coherent reform agenda. Yet significant uncertainty surrounds her fiscal strategy, which risks deepening stagflation, and her hawkish security posture, which could unsettle regional stability if it pushes Japan towards constitutional revision or accelerated rearmament. – Japan’s uncertain path after Takaichi’s big win | East Asia Forum