Liberalism And Conservatism: Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi And Her Political Approach

In the contemporary political landscape, two major ideological approaches are commonly identified: liberalism and conservatism. Liberalism tends to be idealistic and equality-oriented, placing emphasis on freedom, human rights, and international cooperation and dialogue. Conservatism, by contrast, is more realistic and order-oriented, prioritizing national interest and security. Although it can sometimes become self-righteous, it generally maintains a pragmatic outlook and emphasizes the importance of history and tradition. Although liberalism appears to be widely embraced around the world, conservatism—while supported by a smaller number of people—continues to be respected as well. In Japan, the newly appointed Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, tends to advocate a conservative perspective. Her remarks in the Diet regarding a potential existential crisis involving Taiwan can be seen as one such case. This paper examines how Takaichi, as Japan’s newly appointed leader, engages in politics, with particular attention to her use of social and political language. The analysis draws primarily on internet-based media sources, including YouTube content, online articles, newspapers, academic journals, and a range of relevant books.