Japan’s Takaichi blends tough image with quirky diplomacy
When Sanae Takaichi took office in October as Japan’s first female prime minister, she did so with a clear message: she wanted to be an “Iron Lady.”
The reference — to former British leader Margaret Thatcher — signaled a tough, uncompromising approach to leadership, shaped by decades in conservative politics and a long-standing focus on national strength and economic security.
But in recent month, Takaichi has shown a markedly different side.
During a January meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, Takaichi sat behind a drum kit and joined him in a brief performance of K-pop hits, including BTS’ “Dynamite.” The jam session, held in Nara, her hometown, capped Lee’s official visit and quickly went viral online.
It was a nod to Takaichi’s past as a heavy metal drummer and, as she later wrote, fulfilled Lee’s long-held wish to play the instrument.
Weeks later, Takaichi again leaned into cultural symbolism during talks with French President Emmanuel Macron. At a joint appearance in Tokyo, the two leaders cupped their hands and mimicked the “Kamehameha,” a signature move from the globally popular anime Dragon Ball.
The moment, shared widely on social media, offered a stark contrast to the substance of their discussions, where Macron stressed Europe’s “predictability” in uncertain times, taking an apparent swipe at U.S. policy under Donald Trump.
As she navigates a complex geopolitical landscape, Takaichi appears to be adding a new tool to her playbook.
From drum kits to anime gestures, Japan’s “Iron Lady” is showing that even the most hardline leaders can wield a softer touch — and that, in diplomacy, personality can be as powerful as policy.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
