Inside the mind of Japan’s first woman PM Sanae Takaichi | Asian Insider podcast

Our guest expert looks at her political approach, as well as her personal side. 

In this wide-ranging conversation, Ravi speaks with Professor Tomohiko Taniguchi, foreign policy adviser to the Cabinet of the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and one of the most authoritative voices on Japan about the ascend and likely impact of Sanae Takaichi.

They discuss Ms Takaichi’s first diplomatic encounter with US President Donald Trump, her hardline approach to defence, and China, Japan’s shifting priorities in Asean as Philippines rises in salience and Indonesia declines, Tokyo’s dread of Trump’s ‘G-2’ talk, the future of the Quad security dialogue, and her approach to economic policy.

They also discuss Ms Takaichi’s softer, personal side – her early life, propensity to ride powerful motorbikes, marriage to the same man twice and finally, the question: Now that Japan has its first woman PM, is it time to consider an Empress for Japan?

Highlights (click/tap above):
0:00 Intro
1:00 Shinzo Abe’s protege? Yes, and no.
5:00 Asean summit and first encounter with Donald J Trump
10:00 Japan’s dread of Trump’s “G-2” talk
12:00: Defence thrust, and the nuclear question
18:30 China, Japan’s key neighbour
22:30 For Tokyo, Indonesia dips while Philippines rises
26:00 Is Quad dead in the water?
31:00 Japan and foreigners
36:10 Sanae Takaichi: woman, wife, rocker, biker
41:20 After woman PM, an Empress for Japan?

Host: Ravi Velloor ([email protected])
Read Ravi's columns: https://str.sg/3xRP
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Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani & Chen Junyi
Executive producer: Ernest Luis

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