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Japan elects its first ever female prime minister

Sanae Takaichi - Level 0

Japan has its first female prime minister. Sanae Takaichi is the country's 104th leader. Takaichi made a deal with a right-wing party to win. However, she has a difficult job. Japanese people want lower food prices and job security. They are worried about the growing number of old people.

Sanae Takaichi has had an interesting life. She played drums in a rock band. She supports Osaka soccer and baseball teams. She also had a powerful motorbike. She lived in the USA and wrote books about politics. She also worked as a TV anchor. Women hope Takaichi will support gender equality and same-sex marriage.

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11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Sanae Takaichi - Level 1

Japan has its first female prime minister. Sanae Takaichi, 64, is the country's 104th prime minister. She won 237 votes in Japan's parliament. She takes over from former leader Shigeru Ishiba. He was in power for a year. Takaichi made a deal with a right-wing party to win. However, she has a difficult job. Japanese people are unhappy about food prices, job security, and a falling birth rate. They are also worried about the growing number of old people.

Sanae Takaichi has had an interesting life. She played drums in a rock band. She supports the Gamba Osaka soccer team and the Hanshin Tigers baseball team. She also had a powerful motorbike. In 1987, she moved to the USA and wrote books about politics. In 1989, she worked as a TV anchor. Women hope Takaichi will support gender equality and diversity. However, she does not support same-sex marriage.

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11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Sanae Takaichi - Level 2

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Japan has its first female prime minister. Sanae Takaichi, 64, was elected as the country's 104th prime minister. She won 237 votes in Japan's parliament. Her opponent won 149 votes. Ms Takaichi takes over from former leader Shigeru Ishiba. He was in power for a year. To get enough votes to win the election, Takaichi made an alliance with a right-wing party. She has a difficult job ahead of her. Japanese people are unhappy about rising food prices, job security, and a falling birth rate. They are also worried about how to care for the growing number of old people.

Sanae Takaichi has had an interesting life. At university, she played drums in a rock band. She supports the Gamba Osaka soccer team and the Hanshin Tigers baseball team. She also had a powerful Kawasaki Z400 motorbike. In 1987, Takaichi moved to the USA. She wrote books about American politics. In 1989, she worked as a TV anchor. Women hope Takaichi's background means she will support gender equality and diversity. However, she does not support same-sex marriage. She also opposes allowing separate surnames for married couples.

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11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Sanae Takaichi - Level 3

Japan has its first ever female prime minister. Her name is Sanae Takaichi. She was elected as the country's 104th prime minister on Tuesday. She won 237 votes in the lower house of Japan's Diet (parliament). Her opponent, Yoshihiko Noda, won 149 votes. Ms Takaichi takes over from former leader Shigeru Ishiba. He was in power for just one year. Takaichi is head of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). To get enough votes to win the election, she had to make an alliance with the right-wing Japan Innovation Party. She has a tough job ahead of her. Japanese people are unhappy about rising prices, job security, a falling birth rate, and how to care for the increasing number of old people.

Sanae Takaichi, 64, has led an interesting life. At university, she played drums in a heavy metal rock band. She likes sport and supports the Gamba Osaka soccer team and the Hanshin Tigers baseball team. She was interested in motorcycles and had a powerful Kawasaki Z400 motorbike. In 1987, Takaichi moved to the USA and wrote books about American politics. In 1989, she worked as a TV anchor on a variety show. Women in Japan hope Takaichi's background means she will support gender equality and diversity. However, she opposes same-sex marriage and allowing separate surnames for married couples. In addition, she does not agree that a woman should become emperor ahead of a man.

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25 online activities    |    27-page printable    |    2-page mini-lesson