What the Collapse of the Ruling Coalition Means for Japan

Japan’s political landscape has entered uncharted territory. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party has lost its coalition partner, Komeito, ending a 26-year alliance that had helped anchor Japan’s government and ensured stability for much of the past quarter century.

Now, Sanae Takaichi, who was elected as the LDP’s first female leader in early October, faces a pivotal moment. She could make further history as Japan’s first woman prime minister, risk becoming one of the country’s weakest leaders in the postwar era, or miss out on the role entirely.