Takaichi fever' grips Japan: The ultraconservative leader becomes a phenomenon that transcends politics

"The fact that Japan's prime minister, the ultraconservative Sanae Takaichi, has become a phenomenon that transcends politics was clear at her final campaign rally last Saturday in a park on Tokyo's outskirts. Braving freezing temperatures, the darkness of night, and a light rain that would turn to snow by dawn, thousands gathered just to see her to be there aware they were witnessing a historic moment When Takaichi took the stage, the audience's response was subdued but extremely attentive. They applauded tentatively."

"The first woman to lead a Japanese government then explained her method: Work, work, work. An effective phrase she repeats at every rally, almost a meme in itself. She called for a concerted effort to make Japan once again a strong and wealthy archipelago. She touched on her core themes: strengthening defense, raising wages, encouraging companies to build factories at home, and boosting technology, selfsufficiency, and the rareearth industry."

Sanae Takaichi, an ultraconservative, drew thousands to a final campaign rally in freezing conditions, where she emphasized relentless work and urgency. She promoted strengthening defense, raising wages, reshoring manufacturing, boosting technology, self-sufficiency, and developing the rare-earth industry. Her tone suggested immediate action. Voter response produced an unprecedented surge that gave the Liberal Democratic Party its strongest postwar performance in the House of Representatives, increasing seats from 198 to 316. The LDP surpassed a two-thirds parliamentary majority for the first time, creating the possibility of proposing constitutional amendments, especially on defense, within a country long committed to pacifism.

Read at english.elpais.com