Japan's first female governing-party leader is an ultra-conservative star in a male-dominated group

TOKYO (AP) — In a country that ranks poorly internationally for gender equality, the new president of Japan's long-governing Liberal Democrats, and likely next prime minister, is an ultra-conservative star of a male-dominated party that critics call an obstacle to women's advancement.

Sanae Takaichi, 64. admires former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and is a proponent of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's conservative vision for Japan.

Takaichi is the first female president of Japan's predominantly male ruling party that has dominated Japan's postwar politics almost without interruption.

She hardly touched on gender issues during the campaign, but on Saturday, as she tried out the party president's chair and posed for a photo as is customary for the newly elected leader, Takaichi said: ”Now that the LDP has its first female president, its scenery will change a little."

First elected to parliament from her hometown of Nara in 1993, she has served in key party and government posts, including minister of economic security, internal affairs and gender equality.

Female lawmakers in the conservative Liberal Democratic Party who were given limited ministerial posts have often been shunned as soon as they spoke up about diversity and gender equality. Takaichi has stuck with old-fashioned views favored by male party heavyweights.

Takaichi also admits she is a workaholic who would rather study at home instead of socializing. After unsuccessfully running for party presidency twice in the past, she made efforts to be more sociable to build connections as advised, she said.

But on Saturday, as she called for an all-out effort to rebuild the party and regain public support, she asked all party lawmakers to “work like a horse.” Then she added, “I will abandon the word ‘work-life balance.’ I will work, work, work and work."

The “work-life balance” quickly trended on social media, triggering mixed reactions — support for her enthusiasm and concern about her work ethic.

Women comprise only about 15% of Japan’s lower house, the more powerful of the two parliamentary chambers. Only two of Japan’s 47 prefectural governors are women.

A drummer in a heavy-metal band and a motorbike rider as a student, Takaichi has called for a stronger military, more fiscal spending for growth, promotion of nuclear fusion, cybersecurity and tougher policies on immigration.

She vowed to drastically increase female ministers in her government. But experts say she might actually set back women’s advancement because as leader she would have to show loyalty to influential male heavyweights. If not, she risks a short-lived leadership.

Takaichi has backed financial support for women's health and fertility treatment as part of the LDP policy of having women serve in their traditional roles of being good mothers and wives. But she also recently acknowledged her struggles with menopausal symptoms and stressed the need to educate men about female health to help women at school and work.

Takaichi supports the imperial family’s male-only succession, opposes same-sex marriage and a revision to the 19th-century civil law that would allow separate surnames for married couples so that women don’t get pressured into abandoning theirs.

She is a wartime history revisionist and China hawk. She regularly visits Yasukuni Shrine, which Japan’s neighbors consider a symbol of militarism, though she has declined to say what she would do as prime minister.

Political watchers say her revisionist views of Japan’s wartime history may complicate ties with Beijing and Seoul.

Her hawkish stance is also a worry for the LDP’s longtime partnership with Komeito, a Buddhist-backed moderate party. While she has said the current coalition is crucial for her party, she says she is open to working with far-right groups.

Former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi, center, stands as Takaichi was chosen to a new leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party during the party's leadership election in Tokyo, Japan, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (Kyodo News via AP)

Sanae Takaichi, the newly-elected leader of Japan's ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), attends a press conference after the LDP presidential election in Tokyo Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (Yuichi Yamazaki/Pool Photo via AP)

FILE - Newly-appointed Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, front row third from right, poses with his Cabinet members after an attestation ceremony for his Cabinet at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, on Sept. 26, 2006. Front row from left: Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister Bunmei Ibuki, Environment Minister Masatoshi Wakabayashi, Foreign Minister Taro Aso, Abe, Defense Agency Director General Fumio Kyuma and Finance Minister Koji Omi. Second row from left: Justice Minister Jinen Nagase, Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Hakuo Yanagisawa, Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Yoshihide Suga, Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Tetsuzo Fuyushiba and Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry Akira Amari and Economy and Banking Minister Hiroko Ota. Third row from left: Okinawa and Northern Territories, Innovation, Gender Equality and Food Safety Minister Sanae Takaichi, National Public Safety Commission Chairman Kensei Mizote, Administrative Reforms Minister Genichiro Sata, unidentified, unidentified, Toshikatsu Matsuoka, Yuji Yamamoto, unidentified and Chief Cabinet Secretary, also in charge of resolving North Korea's abductions of Japanese citizens Yasuhisa Shiozaki. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye, File)

FILE - Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a press conference at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo, on Sept. 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)

FILE - Japanese lawmakers, including Sanae Takaichi, center left, visit the Yasukuni Shrine to pay respect to the war dead on the day of the 69th anniversary of the end of the World War II, in Tokyo, on Aug. 15, 2014. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, File)

FILE - Sanae Takaichi, newly appointed Internal Affairs and Communications minister, enters the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)

Former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi, center left, bows as Takaichi was chosen to a new leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party during the party's leadership election in Tokyo, Japan, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (Kyodo News via AP)

Former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi, center, stands as Takaichi was chosen to a new leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party during the party's leadership election in Tokyo, Japan, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (Yohei Fukai/Kyodo News via AP)

Newly-elected leader of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Sanae Takaichi, right, shakes hands with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba after winning the LDP leadership election i in Tokyo, Japan, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Pool Photo via AP)

Newly-elected leader of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Sanae Takaichi, center right, celebrates with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba after winning the LDP leadership election in Tokyo, Japan, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Pool Photo via AP)

Former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election in Tokyo, Japan, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (Kyodo News via AP)

TORONTO (AP) — Cole Caufield scored in regulation and a shootout, Alexandre Texier had the winner in the tiebreaker and the Montreal Canadiens beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 on Saturday night.

Jakub Dobes made 22 saves to help Montreal improve to 15-9-3.

Scott Laughton scored for Toronto, and Dennis Hildeby stopped 33 shots. The Maple Leafs dropped to 13-11-4. They had won three in a row.

Hildeby got the start after Joseph Woll joined Anthony Stolarz on injured reserve earlier in the day. Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube said Woll will be out “a week … hopefully” after leaving a 5-1 victory in Carolina on Thursday night after two periods because if a lower-body injury.

The Canadiens, who topped the Maple Leafs 5-2 at home Nov. 22 to open Toronto’s recent six-game trip, connected on their second man advantage at 8:25 of the second period when Caufield slid his 15th goal of the season past Hildeby.

The Montreal winger extended his points streak to 10 games for the second double-digit run of his career.

Laughton replied for Toronto on a short-handed breakaway with 9:32 left in the third his third goal of the season and third in three games.

Canadiens: Host St. Louis on Sunday night.

Maple Leafs: Host Tampa Bay on Monday night.

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

Montréal Canadiens defenseman Jayden Struble (47), goaltender Jakub Dobes, center, and Josh Anderson (17) celebrate winning over the Toronto Maple Leafs after a shootout in an NHL hockey game in Toronto, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly (44) clears the puck from in front of his goalie Dennis Hildeby (35) as Montréal Canadiens left wing Juraj Slafkovský (20) and Canadiens right wing Cole Caufield (13) look on during first period NHL hockey action in Toronto on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montréal Canadiens right wing Cole Caufield (13) celebrates after his goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs with teammates on the bench during second-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP

Montréal Canadiens defenceman Noah Dobson (53) picks up a penalty for tripping Toronto Maple Leafs right wing William Nylander (88) during second period NHL hockey action in Toronto on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montréal Canadiens left wing Alexandre Texier (85) scores the winning goal against Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Dennis Hildeby (35) during shootout NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)