Japan's First Female Prime Minister

高市早苗をめぐる英語ガイド

1. Set the Stage

2025年10月4日、自民党は高市早苗氏を新しい党首に選出し、日本初の女性首相が誕生する見通しとなりました。本記事では、英語学習者が背景をつかみやすいよう、日本語で概要を押さえつつ、後半で英語原文を読み解ける構成にしています。

高市氏の勝利は歴史的な転換点である一方、党内の分裂、生活費高騰、有権者の不信感など、課題は山積みです。この状況を英語で理解し、語彙力・読解力を高めるためのガイドとしてご活用ください。

まず日本語で基礎を整え、その後に英語原文を読むことで、理解の深さと記憶の定着が大きく高まります。

2. Key Vocabulary — 今回の英語キーワード

政治・組織

disunity — 不和
divisions — 分裂
cohesion — 結束
scandals — 不祥事

評価・出来事

milestone — 画期点
jolted — 揺さぶった
skepticism — 懐疑
criticism — 批判

人物像・政策

hawk — タカ派
nationalist — 国家主義者
contradictions — 矛盾

3. 英語で読むときの注目ポイント（使いやすい型）

● 譲歩の構文

Though it also underscores the LDP’s internal divisions…

● 現在完了＋副詞 long

She has long advocated a firmer stance…

● at a moment of + 抽象名詞

Her premiership begins at a moment of both symbolism and uncertainty.

4. 英語原文はこちら

Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) elected Sanae Takaichi as its new leader on October 4, clearing the way for her to become the country’s first female prime minister. She succeeds Shigeru Ishiba, who resigned in September after electoral setbacks and mounting party disunity.

Takaichi, a veteran conservative lawmaker, defeated Shinjiro Koizumi in a runoff, winning 185 votes to 156. Her victory marks a historic milestone in Japan’s male-dominated politics, though it also underscores the LDP’s internal divisions.

Once confirmed by parliament later this month, she will face the urgent task of stabilizing a party that recently lost its majority in both houses and of regaining voter confidence amid rising living costs and scandals.

On policy, Takaichi is known as a security hawk and a staunch nationalist. She has long advocated a firmer stance toward China and closer alignment with the United States.

Economically, she supports expansionary fiscal measures reminiscent of “Abenomics,” raising expectations of looser monetary conditions that have already jolted currency and bond markets.

Yet her leadership poses contradictions. Takaichi has pledged to elevate women in her cabinet, but her past opposition to reforms such as permitting dual surnames for married couples or a female emperor has drawn criticism.

Foreign relations may also prove delicate, given her past visits to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine.

Her premiership begins at a moment of both symbolism and uncertainty: a historic first, but one shadowed by economic strain, voter skepticism, and the fragile cohesion of her own party.

5. Use It or Lose It — 今日からできるアウトプット