Sanae Takaichi was born on 7 March 1961 in Yamatokōriyama, Nara Prefecture. She is married to Taku Yamamoto. Ms Takaichi graduated from Kobe University with a degree in business administration in 1984.
Mrs Takaichi was first elected to the House of Representatives as an independent candidate in 1993, joining the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in 1996. She has held numerous ministerial positions, including Parliamentary Vice Minister of International Trade and Industry under Prime Minister Obuchi Keizō, and Senior Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry under Prime Minister Koizumi Jun’ichirō.
Under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Ms Takaichi served twice as Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications (2014–2017 and 2019–2020), and held several other cabinet positions including Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy. From 2022 to 2024, she served as Minister of State for Economic Security under Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
Mrs Takaichi has served as Chair of the LDP’s Policy Research Council and is known for her economic policy approach emphasising strategic government investment in critical sectors.
Sanae Takaichi became Prime Minister on 21 October 2025, making history as Japan’s first female Prime Minister and the first woman to lead the Liberal Democratic Party.
