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🇯🇵 Japan: "...work like horses..."

🇯🇵 Japan: "...work like horses..."

Japan's first female PM sends different messages to different audiences.

Imran Khan
October 25, 2025

Analysing meaning and power through language.

Hi Signposter. As of October 2025, the United States remains the solitary G7 nation to have never had a female leader. The latest G7 nation to abandon the U.S. is Japan, who appointed their first ever female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, earlier this week.

Takaichi’s rise to the highest seat of power in Japan mirrors that of the other recent G7 nation’s minority prime minister — the United Kingdom’s Rishi Sunak back in 2022. Both Takaichi and Sunak were first appointed to lead their respective conservative parties, before being appointed — rather than elected — into the prime ministerial chair. Which is why either of their elevations has not been received with universal joyous public approval in the way former U.S. president Barack Obama’s was when he became the first minority president elected into power by popular vote in the United States.

This is not to tarnish Takaichi’s or Sunak’s respective achievements (after all, a promotion is a promotion whichever way you slice it). But it reflects the unique challenges that Takaichi faces both within and without her party. These challenges were hinted at in the statements she delivered — first as the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, and next as prime minister. In this issue of Signpost, we’ll compare the messages delivered in each statement, what it says about their intended audiences, and Takaichi’s standing amongst them.

THIS WEEK

🇯🇵 Japan: Statements made by prime minister Sanae Takaichi

Source: Wikimedia Commons

There are two statements to compare this week. The first is the statement Takaichi made when she became leader of her political party, the Liberal Democratic Party, earlier in October.

Since the speech is in Japanese for which no official English language text exists, the speech has been taken from Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper and translated by Google Translate. It’s the closest thing to ‘official text’ that we have.

Below is the entire text of the speech, with specific words and phrases highlighted for semiotic analysis:

Together with so many of you, we have carved out a new era for the LDP. Thank you very much. First of all, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to President Ishiba, who has worked so hard, carefully and meticulously dealing with opposition parties, despite the extremely difficult circumstances of being a minority ruling party in both the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors. He also strongly advocated for the establishment of the Disaster Prevention Agency and paved the way for regional revitalization, as he advocated strongly during last year's presidential election.

Rather than feeling happy right now, I feel that the future is truly difficult. There are a mountain of things we must do together with you all. That's what I believe. There are many policies, many of which must be implemented quickly. And together with you all, we will make the LDP a more spirited and positive party. We need to make efforts to make it a party that turns the anxiety of many people into hope.

As I said earlier, I will keep my promise. We can't rebuild unless all generations join forces and everyone works hard. Because we are a small group, everyone will have to work. They will have to work like horses. I myself have abandoned the phrase "work-life balance." I will work, work, work, work, work. I sincerely ask that you all work hard in your respective fields of expertise for the sake of Japan and to rebuild the LDP. And from now on, I will do my best humbly, so I ask for your guidance and guidance. Thank you very much.

Sanae Takaichi

The second text is the statement Takaichi made once she was sworn in as the new prime minister of the country. The Prime Minister’s Office of Japan released the statement (taken directly from the official website) below. As before, the text has specific words and phrases highlighted for semiotic analysis:

Today, I was designated as the nation's Prime Minister, and a new Cabinet has been inaugurated. Bolstered by a strong and unwavering belief in the latent power and vitality of Japan and the Japanese people, I will dedicate myself completely to discharging my duty of forging a path for Japan's future.

I will work resolutely for the sake of our nation and the Japanese people, filled with the determination to press ahead tenaciously under any circumstances. I will strive to build a strong economy, turning people's unease and apprehension over their current lives and the future into hope, and I will deal with the challenges facing the international community as I embark on restoring Japanese diplomacy that flourishes on the world's center stage.

I ask the Japanese people for their understanding and cooperation as I take these responsibilities upon myself.

Sanae Takaichi

CONTEXT

1️⃣ What is happening?

On 8th July 2022, Japan’s longest ever serving prime minister Shinzo Abe was shot and mortally wounded while delivering a campaign speech in the city of Nara. His death was officially announced roughly six hours later. Since his death, Japan has had four prime ministers in a little over three years. And while most of the focus on Takaichi’s elevation to prime minister has been on her gender and personal perspectives, the wider implication is on the loosening grip of power that the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has on Japanese politics.

The LDP has been in power in Japan from its formation in 1955 (except for two brief periods between 1993 to 1996, and again from 2009 to 2012). While Singapore is often called a one-party democracy, the same can be said of Japan. Takaichi is the latest product of that system, who happens to be a woman.

As of the last general election in 2024, the LDP holds 41% of seats in parliament, with only a 38% of vote share. The big tent conservative party, holding political leaders that range from centrist to ultraconservative, is finding itself squeezed out from both sides.

The LDP has been ruling in a coalition with the more centrist Komeito party since 2012. However, Komeito pulled out of the coalition as Takaichi’s LDP leadership was confirmed earlier this month. The reason given was of LDP’s failure to address a political funding scandal that had plagued the coalition for years. Yet, it is possible that Komeito were simply not ready to back Takaichi, well known as a protégé of Abe and often leaning further ultraconservative for social values while pushing for higher defence spending.

In the last two weeks, Takaichi stitched together another coalition with the Japan Innovation Party (JIP), the second largest opposition party in Japan’s National Diet. The JIP’s politics is right-wing populism, more in line with Takaichi’s and the LDP’s political brand. So while any immediate political turmoil for LDP was avoided, it is possible that we have not seen the end of Japan’s revolving door of prime ministers.

2️⃣ What was written, and to whom?

The first text was a speech given by Takaichi to her fellow LDP members, after having wrangled the leadership of the party on her third try, becoming the first female leader of the party.

The second statement was issued on the official website of the Prime Minister’s Office after she had successfully been appointed the new prime minister. This statement was intended for the people of Japan who did not get the opportunity to vote for her.

Keep those audiences in mind as we analyse the texts.

ANALYSING THE TEXT

The Speech to the LDP

Words / Phrases	What it Says	What it Means
Together with so many of you	we did this together	I managed to wrangle enough of you in my corner
carefully and meticulously dealing with opposition parties / minority ruling party	it is challenging to work with coalition partners	we have no choice but to work with coalition partners to stay in power
I feel that the future is truly difficult	this is my feeling	this is fact
a mountain of things we must do / need to make efforts	there is more work to be done	the party is not meeting my minimum standards of hard work
turns the anxiety of many people into hope	the people of Japan are anxious and we must give them hope	the people of Japan are anxious and my appointment has not helped alleviate those fears
everyone will have to work. They will have to work like horses. I myself have abandoned the phrase "work-life balance." I will work, work, work, work, work. I sincerely ask that you all work hard	I will work hard and so will you	I am in charge and I will tell you exactly how hard you have to work

The Official Statement of the Prime Minister

Words / Phrases	What it Says	What it Means
designated as the nation's Prime Minister	appointed as prime minister	unelected prime minister
unwavering belief in the latent power and vitality of Japan and the Japanese people	my belief in the people of Japan is unshakeable	I want to shake up the people of Japan
dedicate myself completely	my whole life is now about leading Japan	even though you didn’t vote for me I am still your leader so please follow me
under any circumstances	whatever is asked	I’m not going anywhere
turning people's unease and apprehension over their current lives and the future into hope	I want to provide hope to the people of Japan	I know many people in Japan are not thrilled with my appointment
restoring Japanese diplomacy	raising Japan’s international standing to before	get ready for a more forceful, muscular Japan in international politics
I take these responsibilities upon myself	the buck stops with me	I’m not going anywhere

DECONSTRUCTING THE TEXT

🗝️ Unlocking Meaning

The most famous phrase from Takaichi’s speech to her LDP comrades was of her rejecting ‘work-life balance’ and wrangling the party faithful to ‘work like horses’. Probably because it sounds better than ‘work like dogs’. Either way, the language used for her speech is laser-like focused on explaining the situation to the rest of the party: the LDP is kneecapped going into a coalition government, and her job to keep the party in power is going to be even more challenging considering that she was not elected and now citizens are losing faith in the LDP with the increased political footprint of parties on either side of the aisle.

Despite issuing what could have been a victory speech, there is no place even for faux humility. There is only reality-check after reality-check. Takaichi says it is what she feels, but she states it as a truth, ‘the future is truly difficult’. As if to say ‘anybody who thought they were in for an easier time because I’m female is in for a rude shock’. It’s worth noting that when she made this speech, she was not yet prime minister.

👑 Power Play

Part of her more muscular language could be reflective of the coalition she has formed with the more right-wing, populist Japan Innovation Party, unlike previously with the more centrist Komeito. Perhaps she feels more willing to lean further rightward without expecting much coalition pushback. The new coalition has eased her efforts of “carefully and meticulously dealing with opposition parties” since one of the largest right wing opposition parties is now in her administration.

While Takaichi’s focus is on blazing her own trail as leader of Japan, she also wants to remind people that she got here despite, and not because of, being a woman. Which is why she will ensure that everybody around her will ‘work like horses’. It is worth questioning whether another male prime minister would have felt it necessary to make such a statement.

Takaichi famously admires former U.K. prime minister Margaret Thatcher, wanting herself to be Japan’s Iron Lady. From what she has said in these two statements, it looks like she has finally gotten her chance. Even a broken coalition was not going to stop her.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Tell me your reasoning. In next week’s issue, I’ll highlight the most thought-provoking responses.

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