---
title: "Takaichi to appoint Japan's first female finance minister"
description: "TOKYO, Oct 21 (Reuters) - Japan's likely next prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, plans to appoint former minister Satsuki Katayama as the first female finance minister, broadcaster FNN said, underscoring the symbolic shattering of the glass ceiling as Takaichi is set to be voted in as the country's inaugural female premier later on Tuesday."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-10-21-takaichi-to-appoint-japans-first-female-finance-minister/"
published: "2025-10-21T04:24:42"
updated: "2025-10-21T04:24:43"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 250
---

# Takaichi to appoint Japan's first female finance minister

> TOKYO, Oct 21 (Reuters) - Japan's likely next prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, plans to appoint former minister Satsuki Katayama as the first female finance minister, broadcaster FNN said, underscoring the symbolic shattering of the glass ceiling as Takaichi is set to be voted in as the country's inaugural female premier later on Tuesday.

By Reuters · Published 21 October 2025, 06:24 SAST · Updated 21 October 2025, 06:24 SAST

## Key points
- In a historic twist, Japan is poised to crown Takaichi as its first female prime minister, promising a rightward shift and a potential economic jolt, all while the stock market dances to the tune of her coalition's ambitions.
- Takaichi, a hardline conservative and ally of Shinzo Abe, is poised to become Japan's first female prime minister after a coalition deal with the Japan Innovation Party.
- Her leadership signals a potential shift to the right amid rising economic concerns, including inflation and sluggish growth.
- Takaichi plans to appoint Katayama as Japan's first female finance minister, leveraging her extensive experience in economic revitalization.
- Equity markets are responding positively, with the Nikkei index reaching record highs as Takaichi is expected to implement spending measures to stimulate the economy.

## Content

Takaichi, a hardline conservative and an acolyte of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, is now almost certain to become prime minister at a parliamentary vote on Tuesday after her Liberal Democratic Party on Monday agreed to a coalition deal with the right-wing Japan Innovation Party, known as Ishin.

Takaichi's victory will make her the first female prime minister in a country where the top echelons of politics and business are still overwhelmingly male-dominated. Her election will also likely mark a harder tack to the right in a country increasingly worried about rising prices, lacklustre growth and immigration.

Takaichi plans to appoint Katayama, a former finance ministry official-turned-lawmaker, as finance minister, broadcaster FNN reported. Katayama would become Japan's first female finance minister. She chairs the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's research commission on the finance and banking systems.

She has a strong background in economic and finance fields, having served as minister in charge of Local Economic Revitalisation under Abe.

Lawmakers will vote later in parliament to elect the new prime minister. With a combined 231 seats in parliament's dominant lower house, the coalition falls two votes short of a majority. But that tally is almost certainly enough for Takaichi to win the vote.

Equity markets have been emboldened by the prospect of Takaichi, who is seen as likely to spend more to try and jumpstart the economy. The Nikkei share average .N225 hit another record high on Tuesday.

(Reporting by Tokyo Newsroom; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Stephen Coates)