Japan elects its first female prime minister, in photos
Lawmakers applaud as Sanae Takaichi, center, is elected as Japan's new prime minister during the extraordinary session of the lower house, in Tokyo, Japan, Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025.(AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Original Publication Date: October 20, 2025 10:17PM
Publication Updated: October 21, 2025 12:48AM
TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s parliament elected ultraconservative Sanae Takaichi as the country’s first female prime minister on Tuesday, following her party’s last-minute coalition deal to secure a majority. She succeeds Shigeru Ishiba after his party’s heavy election losses.
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Japan’s newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, center, arrives at the prime minister’s office in Tokyo, Japan, Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025.(AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)FILE – Japan’s former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi answers questions during a joint press conference by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential election candidates at the party’s headquarters, Sept. 23, 2025, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool, File)FILE – Shigeru Ishiba, right, with Sanae Takaichi, left, and Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, center, celebrates after Ishiba was elected as new the head of Japan’s ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party’s leadership election, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool, File)FILE – Former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi, center right, bows as Takaichi was chosen as the new leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party during the party’s leadership election in Tokyo, Japan, Oct. 4, 2025. (Kyodo News via AP, File)FILE – Japanese lawmakers, including Sanae Takaichi, center left, visit the Yasukuni Shrine to pay respect to the war dead on the day of the 69th anniversary of the end of the World War II, in Tokyo, on Aug. 15, 2014. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, File)FILE – Candidate Sanae Takaichi, right, casts her ballot at the Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) leadership election at the party headquarters, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool, File)FILE – Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, front row center, and his new Cabinet members pose for a group photo following the first Cabinet meeting at the prime minister’s official residence in Tokyo, Sept. 3, 2014. The ministers from the right front row are Internal Affairs Minister Sanae Takaichi, Abe, Trade Minister Yuko Obuchi, from the right second row, Minister in charge of Japanese Abducted by North Korea Eriko Yamatani, Minister in charge of Promoting Women Haruko Arimura, and Minister in charge of Economic Revitalization Akira Amari. At right top is Justice Minister Midori Matsushima. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)FILE – Sanae Takaichi, newly appointed Internal Affairs and Communications minister, enters the prime minister’s official residence in Tokyo, Sept. 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)FILE – Newly-elected leader of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Sanae Takaichi, right, bows in front of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba after winning the LDP leadership election in Tokyo, Japan, Oct. 4, 2025. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Pool Photo via AP, File)FILE – A worker distributes copies of special edition newspaper issued after Sanae Takaichi won the ruling Liberal Democratic Party leadership vote in Tokyo, Oct. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Ayaka McGill, File)FILE – Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a press conference at the prime minister’s official residence in Tokyo, Sept. 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)FILE – Sanae Takaichi, left, and Seiko Noda, right, both former internal affairs ministers and candidates for the presidential election of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, show their motto on cards, during a debate session held by the Japan National Press Club, Sept. 18, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool, File)FILE – Newly-elected leader of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Sanae Takaichi celebrates after winning the LDP leadership election in Tokyo, Japan, Oct. 4, 2025. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Pool Photo via AP, File)
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