From radical to Rihanna: The myths about Japan’s next leader

THE prospect of a new Japanese leader doesn’t always generate international excitement.

But Sanae Takaichi’s somewhat surprising victory in becoming leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which puts her in pole position to become prime minister next week, jolted markets and energised both sides of the political spectrum.

It’s a vibe-shift moment that has led to a flurry of mis- and disinformation as demand for thought pieces on Takaichi outstrips supply. When the late Shinzo Abe returned as LDP leader in 2012, there was a similar flood of coverage attempting to cast him as a radical conservative who was “dangerously nationalistic”. Doomsayers predicted that Abe would seek the return of Japanese militarism and that his economic spending would collapse the economy.