Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi ceremonially welcomed President Tokayev

Tengrinews.kz — Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, citing the Akorda press service.

A formal welcoming ceremony for the President of Kazakhstan took place at the Prime Minister of Japan’s office.

Akorda’s press service released footage from the ceremony.

Welcoming high-level guests at the Prime Minister’s office is a blend of business protocol and traditions of respect and modesty.

A guard of honor was formed, and the national anthems of both countries were played.

After the guard commander’s report, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Sanae Takaichi introduced the members of their official delegations to one another.

Who is Sanae Takaichi

64-year-old Sanae Takaichi is one of the most prominent figures in Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party. She was born in 1961 in Nara, in a family not involved in politics. She graduated from Kobe University and the Matsushita Institute of Government and Management.

In her youth, she was passionate about rock music and motorcycles and interned in the U.S. Congress under Representative Patricia Schroeder. In 1993, she was first elected to Japan’s Parliament and soon joined the LDP.

Takaichi received her first ministerial post in 2006 under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. She later headed the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and served as Minister for Economic Security in Fumio Kishida’s cabinet.

Photo by the press service of Akorda

Takaichi is known for her tough leadership style, calling herself an “Iron Lady” after Margaret Thatcher. She holds conservative views, advocates revising the pacifist Article 9 of Japan’s Constitution, and supports strengthening the role of the Self-Defense Forces.

On October 4, 2025, Takaichi was elected leader of the LDP, becoming the first woman to lead Japan’s largest political party.

“Our relationship has a great future”: Tokayev meets with Japanese lawmakers

It is worth noting that Tokayev’s first official visit to Japan began with a meeting with Emperor Naruhito. The President emphasized that the Land of the Rising Sun has, for many years, inspired the people of Kazakhstan with its discipline and resilience.

Emperor Naruhito expressed confidence that Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s visit would become a significant milestone in the history of relations between Japan and Kazakhstan and would elevate them to a qualitatively new level.