TOKYO – One reason many economists were disappointed with Sanae Takaichi’s selection as Japanese prime minister last October was concern that economic policy isn’t really her thing.
Sure, the long-time Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker assumed the position of a reformer. She talked of tax cuts, reducing living costs and reviving the supply-side upgrade strategy championed by her mentor, Shinzo Abe.
Economists, it now seems clear, were right as the Iran war has Takaichi running back to her real passion: changing Japan’s constitution.
One could argue it’s a defensible pivot as US President Donald Trump upends the global order by starting at least one war. And as Trump redeploys missile systems from Japan and South Korea to the Middle East and grows ever more erratic on the world stage, Takaichi has reason to wonder if the US still has Tokyo’s back.