The “Sana-mania” that swept Japan on February 8, 2026, has not only reshaped the halls of the Diet but has also ignited a geopolitical and economic shift that many are calling the definitive evolution of the Abe legacy. By securing 316 seats—a staggering two-thirds supermajority—Prime Minister Takaichi has moved with “lightning speed” to consolidate a vision that is as much about national dignity as it is about economic survival.
I. Economic Sovereignty: Beyond Abenomics
While the late Shinzo Abe broke the cycle of deflation, Takaichi is tackling the “inflationary era” with a bolder, more interventionist hand. Her first executive decree signaled the immediate implementation of her campaign promise:
- The Food Tax Suspension: In a move that stunned fiscal hawks but delighted the public, she initiated the two-year freeze on the 8% consumption tax for food items. This serves as a primary shock absorber for the cost-of-living crisis.
- The 2026 “Strategic Growth” Budget: Takaichi has bypassed traditional austerity by introducing a record ¥122 trillion budget. It prioritizes “Sanaenomics” pillars: massive state-led investment in AI, quantum computing, and all-solid-state batteries, aiming to decouple Japan’s critical supply chains from adversarial influence.
II. A “Normal” Nation: Defense and Constitutional Clarity
If Abe opened the door to collective self-defense, Takaichi is walking through it. Following her victory, her first security-related actions have been unmistakably clear:
- Updating the “Three Strategic Documents”: She has ordered an immediate revision of the National Security Strategy to reflect a “forward” posture.
- The Taiwan Strait Stance: Abandoning “strategic ambiguity,” Takaichi reaffirmed that a contingency in Taiwan is a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan, effectively locking in deeper military integration with the U.S. and preparing for the formal recognition of the Self-Defense Forces as a national military.
- Intelligence Centralization: She has moved to establish a National Intelligence Organization, a long-sought goal of the conservative wing to professionalize Japan’s counter-espionage and data-gathering capabilities.
III. Diplomatic Realignment: The “Trump-Takaichi” Axis
Takaichi’s first diplomatic outreach was a high-profile call with President Donald Trump. The “special chemistry” reported between the two leaders suggests a return to the personal diplomacy seen during the Abe-Trump years, but with a sharper edge regarding China. Takaichi has signaled that Japan will no longer be a “normative partner” for the West, but a “strategic actor” that expects reciprocity in defense and technology sharing.
“The Takaichi Cabinet will put an end to the trend toward excessive austerity and under-investment in the future. We will work, work, and work to make Japan strong again.” > — PM Takaichi, Victory Address, Feb 9, 2026
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