Unmasking Sanae Takaichi: An 'ultranationalist' who constantly crosses red lines

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has once again stirred up troubles with her erroneous remarks on Taiwan – comments that blatantly fly in the face of historical truth and legal facts. Her words not only undermine regional stability but ultimately harm Japan's own interests. Far from being a slip of the tongue, these statements expose the true nature of an ultranationalist politician whose track record shows a long and consistent pattern of crossing red lines.

A closer look at Takaichi's political trajectory reveals that her association with Japan's far-right forces is not incidental. It has become her defining political label. From questioning Japan's wartime responsibilities to denying historical atrocities, and from honoring militarism to associating with neo-Nazi figures, Takaichi's political path has been one of active alignment with extremism.

Takaichi entered politics in 1993, winning a seat as an independent in the Japanese parliament's House of Representatives after a brief stint as a television host. Just a year later, she publicly confronted then Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama in the Diet over his acknowledgement that Japan's wartime aggression was wrong.

According to a video released by Japanese media outlet The Sankei Shimbun on October 20 this year, Takaichi aimed a sharp admonition at Murayama during the House of Representatives Budget Committee on October 12, 1994, saying, "I don't want you apologizing as our representative without authorization."

Takaichi later also criticized the landmark Murayama Statement, which is regarded as the pinnacle of Japan's apology for its wrongdoing before and during World War II, as overly emotional, urging that it be revised.

She also attacked the Kono Statement, which acknowledged the coercion of "comfort women," insisting Japan never forced Koreans to work for the Japanese military and outright denying the existence of wartime sexual slavery.

Takaichi joined the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in 1996 and gradually fell under the political wing of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Japanese media frequently referred to her as Abe's "political protege."

Her career continued on a hard-line tack. In August 2007, Takaichi paid a formal visit to the Yasukuni Shrine – the only Abe Cabinet member to do so at the time. She has since become a regular visitor, repeatedly sending signals that embolden historical revisionism and militarist sentiment.

In 2014, shortly after being appointed Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, Takaichi was photographed with Kazunari Yamada, leader of the neo-Nazi group National Socialist Japanese Workers' Party. The photo appeared on the group's website. Takaichi acknowledged its authenticity but dismissed it as having "no political meaning" – a claim that did little to ease public concern.

Takaichi has pushed aggressively for constitutional revision, calling for the removal of Article 9's clause, which renounces the nation's right to engage in war or to resort to military force to resolve international conflicts, and advocated for the transformation of Japan's Self-Defense Forces into a full-fledged military.

She has advocated for a dramatic increase in defense spending and the acquisition of so-called strike capabilities that would fundamentally alter Japan's postwar security posture.

Takaichi has recently claimed that a "Taiwan contingency" could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan, peddling narratives that escalate regional tensions.

In April this year, during a visit to Taiwan as a Diet member, she openly called for strengthened "Japan-Taiwan security cooperation" and even suggested creating a "quasi-alliance" – a flagrant violation of Japan's official commitments and a provocation that undermines the one-China principle.

Her obsession with "using Taiwan to contain China" aligns with the broader ambitions of Japan's right-wing forces, which seek military expansion under the pretext of regional security.