CreatripTeam

During his Asia tour, U.S. President Donald Trump met Japan’s newly appointed Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the Tokyo Guest House. It was their first meeting since Takaichi, often nicknamed “female Abe” for her political continuity with former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, took office. Both leaders emphasized a strengthened U.S.–Japan alliance and plans for a new, “very fair” trade agreement. Takaichi — a right-leaning Liberal Democratic Party figure who admires Margaret Thatcher — projects a composed, gender-balanced leadership style: tailored, neutral-toned suits, a short haircut, and a signature pearl necklace. In Japan, pearls symbolize purity and elegance; Takaichi’s consistent use of pearls (some reportedly gifts from her mother and husband) combines traditional femininity with a firm, authoritative image. While her rise breaks Japan’s political glass ceiling, observers note her policy record favors tradition over gender-equality reforms, raising questions about whether her leadership will deliver substantive change for women.