Sanae Takaichi becomes first female prime minister of Japan
Listen to the story (American English)
Sanae Takaichi is the new prime minister of Japan. Takaichi is the first woman to be the prime minister of Japan.
Japan's parliament is called the Diet. The Diet had a special meeting and they voted for the new prime minister.
In the first vote, Takaichi won the most votes in the Lower House. She got 237 votes. There were 465 votes in total.
The Upper House had two votes. Takaichi won the second vote, called a runoff. She got 125 votes.
Takaichi became the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on October 4. LDP is the ruling party. The last leader, Shigeru Ishiba, quit because his party lost some elections.
Now, Takaichi leads the government, but the LDP’s old partner, Komeito, does not want to work with the LDP.
But a new party, Nippon Ishin, said it would help Takaichi. This helped her win the prime minister vote.
Takaichi's husband is Taku Yamamoto. He used to be a politician. He is now the first "first gentleman."
Other leaders were happy for Takaichi. They said they hope she will make the economy better.
Vocabulary19 words
- Prime Minister
- the head or leader of an elected government of a country; similar to a “president”
- Parliament
- a special group of politicians who make laws for the country
- Called
- Named; To give something a name
- Vote
- to give your opinion and make an official choice; to say your choice/preference in a group of people
- Vote
- a way of making a decision by asking a group of people; an event where people say their opinion and someone counts all of the opinions
- Vote
- a choice that someone makes in an election or meeting especially by writing a mark on an official paper or by raising their hand; an act of giving or registering a vote; the official choice that you make in an election; the result of voting;
- Runoff
- A second election or vote that happens because no one won a majority (more than half) in the first vote
- Leader
- someone who is in charge of a group, organization or country; a boss or manager; a person who guides, directs, or commands a group
- Ruling party
- The party that is currently in power and makes decisions; the group/party that is in charge of the government right now
- Party
- A group of people with similar ideas who want to run the government; A group of people who work together in politics; a political “team”
- Quit
- to stop doing; to give up; to cancel; to leave a job
- Election
- a process or event in which people vote to choose a leader or winner
- Lead
- To be in charge; to guide others
- Government
- the group of people who have the authority to make and enforce laws and manage a country or region; the people/group that manage and operate a country
- Partner
- Someone you work together with
- Husband
- A man who is married
- Used to
- Refers to something that happened regularly in the past but doesn't happen anymore; in the past
- First gentleman
- The husband of a female president or prime minister
- Economy
- all the money and jobs in a country; the system according to which the money, industry, businesses and trade of a country/region are organized; the flow of money between people, businesses and government;
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Sanae Takaichi _____ the new prime minister of Japan. Takaichi is the first _____ to be the prime minister of Japan.
Japan's parliament _____ called the Diet. The Diet had a special meeting and they _____ for the new prime minister.
In the _____ vote, Takaichi won the most votes in the Lower _____. She got 237 votes. There were _____ votes in total.
The Upper House had two votes. Takaichi _____ the second vote, called a runoff. She got _____ votes.
Takaichi became the leader of the Liberal Democratic _____ (LDP) on October 4. LDP is the ruling party. The last _____, Shigeru Ishiba, quit because his party lost some elections.
_____, Takaichi leads the government, but the LDP’s old partner, Komeito, _____ not want to work with the LDP.
_____ a new party, Nippon Ishin, said it would help Takaichi. This _____ her win the prime minister vote.
Takaichi's husband is Taku Yamamoto. _____ used to be a politician. He is now the first "first gentleman."
_____ leaders were happy for Takaichi. They said they hope she will make the _____ better.
Discussion questions
- If you were the new prime minister, what would be the first thing you would try to change or improve in your country?
- Do you think it is important for a country to have a female prime minister? Why or why not?
- Sanae Takaichi is the first woman prime minister. Do you think this will change things in Japan?
- Takaichi won the most votes, but her party lost some elections before. Is this a problem? Why?
- Taku Yamamoto is now the "first gentleman." What do you think his job should be?
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