Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam congratulates new LDP chair Sanae Takaichi

According to the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Secretary Lam’s message followed the LDP’s election of conservative nationalist Takaichi as party head on the same day, after two rounds of voting.

Her new position puts Takaichi on track to become Japan’s first female prime minister following the September 7 resignation of outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

Although the LDP lost its parliamentary majority under Ishiba, the party chair is still widely expected to assume the premiership, as the LDP remains the largest group in the Japanese parliament.

Observers note that Takaichi now has a strong chance of making history, with the parliamentary vote to select Ishiba’s successor scheduled for October 15.

At 64, she is considered a top public choice, enjoying strong support from local party bases.

Takaichi is known for advocating robust fiscal and monetary stimulus policies, pledging to double the size of Japan’s economy within a decade through major state investments in new technologies, infrastructure, food production, and economic security.

Supporters view her election as a milestone in Japan’s traditionally male-dominated political landscape.

The new LDP chair has also pledged to raise the number of women in the cabinet to levels comparable with Nordic countries.

According to Reuters, Takaichi said that if elected prime minister, she would travel overseas more often than her predecessor to spread the message: “Japan is Back!”

“I have thrown away my own work-life balance, and I will work, work, work,” Takaichi said in her victory speech.

“The fact that a woman was chosen might be seen positively. I think it shows that Japan is truly starting to change, and that message is getting through,” 30-year-old company worker Misato Kikuchi told Reuters in Tokyo.