Is Japan Entering a New Political Era?

February 25, 2026

Podcast Deep Dish on Global Affairs Podcast

What does Japan’s Prime Minister signal for security, alliances, and power in Asia and beyond? Takako Hikotani and Noah Sneider explore from the ground.

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Japan is having a political moment that’s drawing attention far beyond Tokyo. A landslide election brought Sanae Takaichi and her party into office, signaling a shift in what voters are looking for. As tensions with China rise and confidence in the United States feels less certain, Japanese voters appear to be prioritizing decisiveness in a more dangerous world. The University of Tokyo’s Takako Hikotani and The Economist’s Noah Sneider explain why Takaichi is resonating right now and what risks may come with this new direction.

About the Experts

Takako Hikotani

Professor, Center for Global Education, University of Tokyo

Takako Hikotani has been a Professor at the Center for Global Education at the University of Tokyo since April 2025. From 2016 to 2021, she was the Gerald L. Curtis Associate Professor of Modern Japanese Politics and Foreign Policy at Columbia University. Her research focuses on civil-military relations and Japanese domestic politics, Japanese foreign policy, and comparative civil-military relations.

Noah Sneider

East Asia Bureau Chief, The Economist

Noah Sneider is The Economist’s East Asia Bureau Chief. He primarily covers Japan, North Korea and South Korea. He also contributes to coverage of China, Taiwan, the Pacific and the Philippines and to broader thematic coverage of Asia. Prior to this he led the paper’s coverage of Japan as Tokyo Bureau Chief. He also covered Russia and Ukraine as Moscow Correspondent.

Leslie Vinjamuri

President & Chief Executive Officer, Chicago Council on Global Affairs

Dr. Leslie Vinjamuri joined the Council in 2025 as the president and chief executive officer, after previously serving as director of the US and the Americas program at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, known as Chatham House, in London. She brings nearly 30 years of experience working at the intersection of international affairs, research, policy, and public engagement.

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