2025年10月4日，日本政壇迎來歷史性的一刻。前經濟安全保障擔當大臣高市早苗在自民黨總裁選舉中脫穎而出，成功當選為該黨第29任總裁。這不僅使她成為自民黨自1955年成立以來的首位女性領袖，也意味著她極有可能在國會的首相指名選舉中正式接任為日本第一位女首相。這場選舉結果迅速成為國內外媒體關注的焦點，被視為日本政治文化的一次重大轉變。

今年的自民黨總裁選舉競爭異常激烈，共有五名候選人參選，分別是前經濟安全保障擔當大臣小林鷹之、前幹事長茂木敏充、現任官房長官林芳正、前經濟安全保障擔當大臣高市早苗，以及農林水產大臣小泉進次郎。這五位候選人代表了自民黨內不同的派閥與政治理念。選舉制度規定，候選人必須獲得至少20名國會議員推薦才能參選，因此能進入這場競爭的五人都具有相當的政治實力與背景。

在第一輪投票中，黨內共計590票（其中295張為國會議員票、295張為地方黨員票），有效票數為589張。投票結果顯示，高市早苗以總計183票暫居領先，小泉進次郎以164票位居第二。由於無人獲得過半數支持，得票最高的高市早苗與第二名小泉進次郎進入第二輪決選。第二輪僅由295名國會議員與47個都道府縣代表進行投票，共342票。最終結果顯示，在341張有效票中，高市早苗以185票對156票的優勢擊敗小泉進次郎，成功當選自民黨新任總裁。

高市早苗出生於1961年，畢業於神戶大學經濟學系。她早年曾在日本放送協會（NHK）擔任節目製作人，後受到政治家中川一郎的啟發，於1993年踏入政壇。她的政治生涯中歷任多項重要職務，包括總務大臣、經濟安全保障擔當大臣、內閣府特命擔當大臣等，是自民黨內公認的核心保守派人物之一。她多次參拜靖國神社，主張日本應恢復自主防衛能力與傳統價值觀，並對中國與韓國等鄰國採取較為強硬的外交態度。

在經濟政策上，高市主張持續推行擴張性的財政與貨幣政策，類似於安倍晉三時期的“安倍經濟學”，強調以政府投資帶動產業成長與科技創新，同時提倡強化經濟安全保障、減少對外部供應鏈的依賴。她主張日本應該建立自主的能源與半導體產業體系，以避免國際局勢動盪時的戰略脆弱。社會政策方面，她堅定維護傳統家庭制度，反對同性婚姻與夫婦分姓制度改革，因此在自由派與年輕選民中爭議頗多。

對外關係方面，高市早苗主張修憲以強化自衛隊職能，甚至支持日本擁有“反擊能力”，即在受到威脅時主動攻擊敵方基地的權利。她同時重視加強日美同盟，認為美國是日本安全的核心夥伴。然而，她對中國的態度明顯強硬，曾多次批評中國在東海與台灣問題上的政策，也表示將支持台灣參與國際組織，這使得中國媒體與學者對她的上台表達關切。

總體而言，高市早苗的當選不僅是一場黨內權力的重新洗牌，更是一場象徵性的政治革命。她的女性身份被視為日本政治打破性別天花板的重要一步，但她極具右翼色彩的政治主張，也意味著日本未來的政策方向可能更為強硬與民族主義化。外界普遍認為，她的領導將成為日本政治走向“保守化與變革並行”的重要分水嶺，未來數月內她的內閣人事安排與外交表態，將決定日本政壇能否真正走向新時代。

On October 4, 2025, Japan witnessed a historic political milestone as Sanae Takaichi won the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership election, becoming the party’s 29th president. Her victory not only makes her the first female leader in the LDP’s history since its founding in 1955 but also positions her to become Japan’s first-ever female prime minister in the upcoming parliamentary vote. The result drew significant domestic and international attention, marking a potential turning point in Japan’s traditionally male-dominated political culture.

This year’s LDP leadership race was fiercely contested, featuring five candidates: former Economic Security Minister Kobayashi Takayuki, former LDP Secretary-General Motegi Toshimitsu, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa, former Economic Security Minister Takaichi Sanae, and Agriculture Minister Koizumi Shinjiro. Under party rules, each candidate required the backing of at least 20 lawmakers to qualify, making this one of the most competitive races in recent years, reflecting a broad spectrum of political ideologies and factions within the LDP.

In the first round of voting, a total of 589 valid votes were cast — 295 from party lawmakers and 295 from rank-and-file members. Takaichi led with 183 votes, followed by Koizumi with 164. Since no candidate secured a majority, the two advanced to a runoff vote. In the second round, consisting of 342 ballots (295 from lawmakers and 47 representing prefectural chapters), Takaichi prevailed with 185 votes to Koizumi’s 156, securing her position as the new LDP president.

Born in 1961 and a graduate of Kobe University, Takaichi began her career as a television producer for NHK before entering politics in 1993, inspired by conservative politician Ichiro Nakagawa. Over the years, she has held several key cabinet posts, including Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications and Minister for Economic Security. Known as a staunch conservative, she has frequently visited the controversial Yasukuni Shrine and has emphasized defending Japan’s national interests and traditional values.

Economically, Takaichi supports aggressive fiscal and monetary policies reminiscent of “Abenomics,” advocating government investment to stimulate growth and technological innovation. She strongly promotes strengthening Japan’s economic security by reducing dependence on foreign supply chains and developing domestic industries such as energy and semiconductors. Socially, she champions traditional family structures and opposes same-sex marriage and separate surnames for married couples, stances that have generated both support among conservatives and criticism from younger, progressive voters.

On foreign policy, Takaichi favors revising Japan’s pacifist constitution to expand the role of the Self-Defense Forces, even endorsing the right to preemptive strikes under certain conditions. She is committed to reinforcing Japan’s alliance with the United States, viewing it as essential to Japan’s national security. However, her assertive stance toward China — including criticism of Beijing’s policies on the East China Sea and Taiwan — has raised concerns in neighboring countries. She has also voiced support for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations, which has drawn wary responses from Chinese analysts.

Overall, Sanae Takaichi’s election is more than a party reshuffle — it symbolizes a paradigm shift in Japan’s political landscape. Her rise breaks through Japan’s long-standing gender barrier in leadership, yet her strong right-wing and nationalist views suggest that Japan may be entering a new era of assertive conservatism. Observers believe her upcoming cabinet appointments and diplomatic moves will determine whether Japan truly embarks on a path of renewal or returns to a more traditional, hawkish posture on the world stage.