Former member of metal band becomes Japan's first female Prime Minister
For the first time in history, a woman has taken the post of Prime Minister in Japan - Sanae Takaichi, who replaced Shigeru Ishiba in this position after his resignation last month. The new leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan is known for her love of hard rock and heavy metal. She is a fan of the bands Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, as well as Japanese artists Demon Kakka, B'z and X Japan. This is reported by NME.
Few people know that Takaichi plays drums herself and performed in a metal band while studying at university. In a recent interview, she admitted that she still sometimes plays an electronic device to relieve stress - usually after her husband falls asleep. Her husband, former politician Taku Takaichi, has prostate cancer and this year suffered a stroke that paralyzed the right side of his body. Sanae takes care of him personally.
In early October, a video of Takaichi performing X Japan's hit "Rusty Nail" on a 2016 TV show went viral.
Other hobbies include Kawasaki motorcycles, horse riding, football (she supports Gamba Osaka), and baseball. She is also known as a supporter of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, for which she has been nicknamed the "Iron Lady of Japan."
On October 4, Takaichi won the election for the chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party, and on October 21, both houses of the Japanese parliament - the House of Representatives and the House of Councilors - officially approved her candidacy for the post of Prime Minister. After that, Emperor Naruhito formally appointed her to the highest state position.
As previously reported, this year the first female F-16 fighter pilot appeared in Poland.