Sanae Takaichi becomes first female prime minister of Japan
Listen to the story (American accent)
On Tuesday, Sanae Takaichi was chosen as the 104th prime minister of Japan. She made history by becoming the first woman to hold the country's highest position.
During a special meeting of the Diet (Japan's parliament), Takaichi won the most votes. In the Lower House, she received 237 votes out of 465. In the Upper House, she did not win a majority in the first vote.
Because of this, the Upper House held a second runoff vote. It was Takaichi against Yoshihiko Noda, the leader of the main opposition party. Takaichi won the runoff with 125 votes out of 246.
Takaichi was elected leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on October 4. She replaced Shigeru Ishiba, who resigned because the party had lost two recent national elections. Due to the losses, the LDP no longer had the majority of seats in parliament.
Takaichi will now lead a minority government. Her party does not have a majority of the seats. The party's old partner, Komeito, left the coalition.
However, the opposition party Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party) agreed to work with the LDP on October 20. This new partnership helped Takaichi win the vote for prime minister.
Takaichi's win also means Japan has its first-ever "first gentleman." Her husband, Taku Yamamoto used to be a politician. He said he wants to support his wife quietly so that he does not get in the way of her work as prime minister.
Other politicians congratulated Takaichi. The leader of Komeito said "I wholeheartedlycelebrate the birth of Japan’s first female prime minister." Other leaders also spoke about their hopes for her to improve Japan's economy.
Vocabulary32 words
- Prime Minister
- the head or leader of an elected government of a country; similar to a “president”
- Make history
- to do something important that has not been done before and will be recorded publicly and remembered for a long time
- Hold
- To have or be in a certain job or position
- A country’s highest position
- The most important job in a country; the job of being a leader of a country
- Parliament
- a special group of politicians who make laws for the country
- 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;
- Majority
- More than half of a group of people
- Vote
- to give your opinion and make an official choice; 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
- 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
- Main
- the most important or the biggest;
- Opposition party
- a group of people who are not in charge and have different ideas than the leaders; The party that is not in power
- Elected
- Chosen by people in a vote
- Ruling party
- The party that is currently in power and makes decisions; the group/party that is in charge of the government right now
- Replace
- to take the place of; to substitute; to come after; to fill in; swap; exchange
- Resign
- to leave a job; to step down; to quit; give up
- National
- Relating to a whole country; belongs to or is about the whole country
- Election
- a process or event in which people vote to choose a leader or winner
- Due to
- because of; owing to
- Loss
- the opposite of a win; when you lose a game; when you lose something
- No longer
- in the past but not now; stopped; not anymore
- Seat
- A job or position in parliament
- Minority government
- A government where the ruling party does not have a majority (more than half) of the seats
- Coalition
- When two or more political parties agree to work together
- Partnership
- to have an agreement to work together; to be partners
- First gentleman
- The husband of a female president or prime minister
- Politician
- a person who works in politics; a person chosen by a country’s citizens to work in the government
- Get in the way
- To stop or bother someone from doing their job
- Congratulate
- To tell someone you're happy for their success; to tell someone “good job”
- Wholeheartedly
- To do something with all your heart or with true feeling
- Celebrate
- To do something special or enjoyable for an important event; to party
- 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;
Quiz
Answer key
1. His party (LDP) lost two recent national elections 2. The Upper House 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
On _____, Sanae Takaichi was chosen as the 104th prime _____of Japan. She made history by becoming the first woman to _____the country's highest position.
During a special _____of the Diet (Japan's parliament), Takaichi won the most _____. In the Lower House, she received 237 votes out of _____. In the Upper House, she did not win a majority in the _____vote.
Because of this, the Upper House _____a second runoff vote. It was Takaichi against Yoshihiko Noda, the _____of the main opposition party. Takaichi won the runoff with _____votes out of 246.
Takaichi was _____leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on October _____. She replaced Shigeru Ishiba, who resigned _____the party had lost two recent national elections. Due to the _____, the LDP no longer had the majority of _____in parliament.
Takaichi will now lead a _____government. Her party does not have a majority of the seats. The party's _____partner, Komeito, left the coalition.
_____, the opposition party Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party) _____to work with the LDP on October 20. This new partnership _____Takaichi win the vote for prime minister.
Takaichi's _____also means Japan has its first-ever "first gentleman." Her _____, Taku Yamamoto used to be a politician. He said he _____to support his wife quietly so that he does not get in the _____of her work as prime minister.
_____politicians congratulated Takaichi. The leader of Komeito _____"I wholeheartedly celebrate the birth of Japan’s first female prime minister." Other _____also spoke about their hopes for her to improve Japan's _____.
Discussion questions
- Takaichi is the first female prime minister. Why is this an important moment for a country? Do you think it will change politics in Japan?
- Takaichi leads a "minority government." What problems might this cause for her, and why is it important for her to have a new partner like Nippon Ishin?
- The previous prime minister resigned because his party lost two elections. Do you think a leader should always resign if their party performs badly in elections? Why or why not?
- Taku Yamamoto said he would support his wife quietly so he doesn't "get in the way." What do you think the role of a "First Gentleman" or "First Lady" should be?
- If you were the new prime minister, what would be the first thing you would try to change or improve in your country?
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