The recent victory in Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) leadership bid may herald a bolder approach in Japan’s approach towards its foreign policy and security posture. Soon to be the first female Prime Minister of Japan, Sanae Takaichi is seen as a protégé of former PM Shinzo Abe, representing a conservative and hawkish section within the LDP. The Abe era witnessed the reinterpretation of Article 9 of the Japanese constitution, the creation of the National Security Council (NSC) and the establishment of the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) framework. Takaichi’s rise signals a continuation, and possible intensification, of Japan’s assertive security posture and its pursuit of constitutional revision to enable a stronger defence role. Her topmost diplomatic priority would be forging closer ties with U.S. President Donald Trump, and her conservative credentials may aid this effort.