Sanae Takaichi: Japan set to get first woman Prime Minister

From heavy metal singer and biker to Japan’s first female Prime Minister — Sanae Takaichi is all set to make history.

Transcript

00:00This 64-year-old woman, once a biker and a heavy metal singer, is all set to become Japan's first

00:11female Prime Minister. Meet Sané Takeichi, the woman who went from racing bikes and rocking on

00:16stage to ruling Japan's most powerful political party. In her college days, she was known for

00:21her pink hair, leather jackets and love for heavy metal. A viral clip shows her singing

00:25ex-Japan's legendary album Blue Blood, anthem Rusty Nail, a cult classic in Japan's rock history,

00:31proof of her bold, rebellious youth. But behind that rockstar persona lies a hardline conservative

00:37leader, known in Japan as the Iron Lady, a title she proudly shares with her idol Margaret Thatcher.

00:42On October 4th, Takeichi won the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership race, defeating four male rivals

00:48and setting herself up to become Japan's first woman Prime Minister. Her win comes at a crucial

00:53moment for Japan, with rising crises, political scandals and regional tensions. However,

00:57her conservative social views have sparked debate. Takeichi opposes same-sex marriage,

01:02female succession to the imperial throne and separate surnames for married couples.

01:06Laws many say disadvantage women. Analysts note that while her victory is historic for gender

01:11representation, she isn't seen as a feminist figure. Born in Nara Prefecture, Takeichi began as a TV

01:17newscaster before entering politics in the late 1980s. Over decades, she climbed the ranks of the ruling

01:22party backed by conservative voters, earning a reputation for discipline, determination and

01:27national pride. Her visits to the controversial Yasu Puni Shrine, which honors Japan's war dead,

01:32including convicted war criminals, have drawn criticism from China and South Korea. Yet,

01:37for her supporters, those visits reflect her loyalty to Japan's past and its heroes.

01:42From biker to metal band singer to Japan's Iron Lady,

01:45Sele Taki Ichi's rise marks the turning point in Japanese politics.