Sanae Takaichi: Japan's 'Iron Lady' Secures Landslide Victory, Strongest Mandate Since 1955

• Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's ruling coalition achieved a sweeping victory in a snap winter election, securing one of Japan's strongest post-war mandates.
• The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) won 316 seats, surpassing its 1986 record, with the ruling bloc reaching 352 seats, nearing a two-thirds supermajority.
• Takaichi, 64, made history as Japan's first woman prime minister and LDP leader in October, having a background as a TV host and heavy metal drummer.
• A close ally of Shinzo Abe, she supports "Abenomics" and is known for conservative stances, opposing same-sex marriage and favoring stronger military and stricter immigration.
• The new mandate empowers Takaichi's government to push through tax cuts and expanded defense spending, policies that have drawn attention amid rising regional tensions with China.