Chapter 9
The Drummer Who Wanted to Be an Iron Lady
Sanae Takaichi, Japan
Her victory speech after winning the LDP leadership, October 4, 2025.
Video from CGTN, in Japanese, with English report. Open it on YouTube
Also worth a look: Her first news conference as party leader, from NHK World.
Think about it
Is having a woman leader automatically a step forward for women, or do her policies matter more? Can both be true?
More questions from this chapter
- Age 19. You’re accepted to a top university, but your family won’t pay and won’t let you move. Sanae chose a six-hour daily commute to another school. Would you have done the same, fought your family, or chosen something else?
- Age 63. You’ve lost twice, the second time by 21 votes. Sanae ran a third time and won. When is it right to keep going, and when is it right to stop?
Your turn: What’s the hardest thing you’ve done to get something you wanted? What would you be willing to do?
For parents and teachers: these videos come from news organizations and official channels. You may want to watch first with younger readers.