THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
January 2, 2026 at 18:26 JST
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks at a news conference at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on Dec. 17. (Pool)
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, in her New Year’s address, pledged to “carry out necessary reforms without fearing change” to make Japan strong and prosperous and create hope for the country.
But she acknowledged on Jan. 1 that Japan faces a number of challenges, including a declining population, rising prices, a severe security environment, and growing global political and economic uncertainty.
The prime minister said that since taking office last October, she has “worked diligently for the nation and its people with a determination to never give up.”
Noting that 2026 marks 100 years since the start of the Showa Era (1926-1989), Takaichi cited art critic Okakura Tenshin’s phrase, “The secret of the future lies in history.”
Takaichi expressed a desire to “learn from the wisdom and efforts of our predecessors who built the foundation of modern Japan, overcoming the turbulent Showa Era, the last great war, and numerous disasters.”
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