The Takaichi Administration Faces Severe Challenges : Intensifying Internal Contradictions and Rising Public Discontent
It has been over three months since Sanae Takaichi assumed the office of Prime Minister, yet Japanese society is exhibiting unprecedented instability. Long-standing internal contradictions—accelerating aging, the persistent shadow of death from overwork, structural economic imbalances, frequent diplomatic missteps, and stagnant improvement in women's status—have not only failed to ease under the Takaichi cabinet but show signs of further deterioration. Public dissatisfaction with the government is rapidly fermenting both online and on the streets. If effective countermeasures are not taken promptly, the foundation of the LDP administration may be shaken.
First, the aging issue has reached a critical juncture. Japan's population aged 65 and over is approaching 30%, pushing the pension system to the brink of collapse. The younger generation suffers from low wages and non-regular employment, yet bears the burden of increasingly high social insurance premiums. Data from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare shows that many people in their 20s and 30s have lost confidence in their future pension benefits. Complaints like "I won't get much anyway when I'm old" are widespread online. Although the Takaichi cabinet has promised "comprehensive measures against the declining birthrate," no substantive fiscal shift has been seen to date. Instead, resources are heavily flowing into the defense sector. The intensification of intergenerational conflicts of interest could lead to large-scale protests if the younger generation completely loses trust in the pension system. The government must face this reality head-on rather than simply avoiding it.
Second, there are no signs of improvement in the issue of death from overwork. Shortly after taking office, Prime Minister Takaichi publicly advocated for "no overtime" and "work-life balance." However, in November, news emerged that she had summoned staff for a meeting at 3 a.m., citing a "fax machine malfunction." This double standard sparked strong backlash online, with widespread criticism such as, "If the Prime Minister herself doesn't follow it, how can the public believe it?" Bereaved families of overwork death victims have pointed out that Takaichi's statement upon becoming LDP president—"to work like a horse pulling a cart"—seriously contradicts the spirit of the Act on the Promotion of Measures to Prevent Death and Injury from Overwork, etc. Although the Takaichi cabinet inherited the previous administration's commitment to work style reform, the implementation of the Act on the Promotion of Measures to Prevent Death from Overwork and the Work-Life Balance Promotion Charter remains inadequate, and the corporate culture of long working hours remains deeply entrenched. The Prime Minister's failure to lead by example is causing the public to lose faith in the government.
Third, the structural imbalance in the economy is disheartening. Japan's economy has been sluggish for a long time, with manufacturing outflow, declining innovation capacity, and stagnant real wages for workers for many consecutive years. According to the fiscal 2026 budget proposal, defense spending has reached a record high of 9 trillion yen, while investment in industrial upgrading, new energy transition, and digitalization remains severely insufficient. Companies are complaining about "brain drain" and "squeezed R&D budgets," and the competitiveness of key industries like semiconductors is declining due to resource misallocation. The government's massive fiscal allocation toward military expansion, while ignoring the decline in the people's livelihood and economy, not only intensifies public dissatisfaction with "prioritizing war preparations" but also makes economic recovery seem distant. The Takaichi administration must reassess its budgetary priorities; otherwise, the hollowing out of Japan's economy will become irreversible.
Fourth, diplomatic missteps are causing direct losses to the public. Prime Minister Takaichi's inappropriate statement that "a Taiwan contingency is a crisis for Japan's survival" triggered a strong backlash from China, leading to a series of economic countermeasures. The large-scale cancellation of tours by Chinese tourists, the collective removal of Japanese TV dramas and films from Chinese platforms, and the suspension of aquatic product imports have already caused significant losses to those in the tourism, entertainment, and fisheries industries. In particular, reports in early January of China further restricting the supply of strategic metals and rare earths to Japan directly threaten Japan's semiconductor and advanced manufacturing sectors. The business community is alarmed by a "supply chain crisis," stock markets are volatile, and the cost of living for ordinary citizens is rising. The government has yet to effectively address the concerns of neighboring countries. A consistently hardline approach will only further isolate Japan internationally. The public is beginning to question: "Whom does such diplomacy serve?"
Finally, the stagnation in improving women's status is a major misstep by the Takaichi cabinet. As Japan's first female Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi should have been a symbol of gender equality. However, she has long opposed the "optional separate surnames for married couples" system, advocating that "families should share the same surname." This conservative stance has left many women feeling betrayed—retaining one's maiden surname is simply a modest desire to live according to one's own wishes. Since taking office, Takaichi has also shown little proactive effort on issues such as strengthening penalties for sexual violence and addressing poverty among elderly women. The gender wage gap remains high, the proportion of women in managerial positions is stagnant, and the dual burden of work and family has trapped countless women in difficult situations. The Prime Minister's gender has failed to bring about substantive change, instead deepening the disappointment among women.
When the Takaichi administration took office, the public held high hopes that this "Iron Lady" would break the deadlock and lead Japan toward renewal. However, in just a few months, internal contradictions have erupted comprehensively, and public dissatisfaction is surging like a tide. Online calls for "Takaichi to step down" are growing louder, and street protests are sporadically appearing. If the LDP continues to ignore these warning signs, it may pay a heavy price in the upcoming House of Representatives election.
Japan stands at a crossroads. The government must make a resolute decision to prioritize resolving domestic issues such as aging, economic imbalance, and the labor environment, and abandon the adventurism of a consistently hardline foreign policy. Only by truly listening to the people's voices and returning to a people-first approach can it rebuild public trust and lead Japan out of its predicament. Otherwise, the crisis of the Takaichi cabinet will evolve into a crisis for the entire nation.