? Listen to Sky News Daily on your podcast app ?
A former television presenter and heavy metal drummer has become the first woman to be elected prime minister of Japan. Sanae Takaichi is known for her right-wing views and cites Margaret Thatcher as an inspiration.
But it's not just her political beliefs that are controversial - Ms Takaichi has a love of hard rock and motorbikes, despite her deeply conservative background.
Why has it taken so long for Japan to elect a female PM? And what challenges does she face domestically, as well as on the world stage?
Niall is joined by Dr Kristin Surak, associate professor of political sociology at the London School of Economics and a leading expert on Japanese politics.
Producers: Natalie Ktena & Tom Gillespie
Editor: Mike Bovill
(c) Sky News 2025: From Iron Maiden to the Iron Lady: Japan's first female prime minister


Trump's Venezuela drug bust shows he's either misinformed or has another motive
Revealed: The plan for a 'New Gaza' - and the four militias Israel is backing to defeat Hamas
Independent candidate Catherine Connolly wins Irish presidential election
Trump says he is '100% open' to meeting Kim Jong Un during Asia trip
Who is Catherine Connolly, Ireland's next president?
US accused of 'inventing a war' as it moves largest aircraft carrier to South America
Turkey urges US to act after accusing Israel of breaching Gaza ceasefire
A landslide victory in a lacklustre presidential election that wounds the Irish government
New Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi vows to bolsters defence spending






