Meanwhile, a conservative woman becomes Prime Minister of Japan

We were so preoccupied with predicting the rise to power of the hard right in Europe that we nearly missed the game-changing election in Japan, where Sanae Takaichi, a hard right conservative, defeated four other colleagues to become leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Thus she is set to become Japan's first female prime minister when the Diet meets to elect a new one.

Ms Takaichi's vision of a staunchly conservative party prevailed over the calls of outgoing PM Shinjiro Koizumi for an inclusive approach. Her election as leader marks a triumph for the LDP's conservative wing. Her liberal critics are wringing their hands about the party's abrupt turn to the right, putting it down to "the Trump effect".

Viewed from our corner of the global forest, it's yet another sign of the trend in Western countries -- that includes Japan -- towards nationalistic, culture-warrior politics.

Ms Takaichi entered  the Japanese parliament in 1993, eventually serving atop the communications ministry and, most recently, as minister for economic security. Her election, however, is hardly a triumph for feminism or the idea of "gender equity".

A staunch social conservative, she opposes giving married couples the legal right to keep separate surnames or allowing female succession in the imperial line. Her political role model is Britain's "Iron Lady", Margaret Thatcher.

But her true mentor was the late prime minister Shinzo Abe, to whose policy agenda Ms Takaichi's bears strong similarities. She declares that "Japan is back!", favours stronger Japanese armed forces, and wants to complete Mr Abe's mission to revise the constitution imposed on Japan by America at the end of WWII.

Ms Takaichi also shares her mentor's revisionist views on Japan’s wartime history. She wants to make the LDP a party "that promotes pride in [Japan’s] traditions and history." She has been a regular visitor to the Yasukuni Shrine, which houses the spirits of Japan’s war dead, including war criminals. If she goes as prime minister, during the shrine's fall festival which begins on October 17th, she will be the first Japanese leader to do so in more than a decade.

President Trump is expected to visit Tokyo on October 27th. Ms Takaishi, considers the alliance with the US of A the cornerstone of Japan's security. She will probably try to strengthen ties with Mr Trump through their shared friendship with Mr Abe. Whether she will attempt to modify the latest trade agreement between the two countries is an open question, given that Ms Takaishi, has an expansionist economic agenda.

The selection of Ms Takaishi comes amidst growing populist sentiment in Japan, a country in which (unlike many Western countries) tradition is still respected and valued. Some upstart populist parties that have made inroads in recent elections. By choosing Ms Takaichi, the LDP is signalling an intention to win back right-wing voters who abandoned in favour of some who have played to increasing resentment over a growing number of foreign workers and tourists. 

Ms Takaichi clearly understands popular sentiment. In her victory speech she vowed to "work, work, work" to rebuild the country and revive her country. She didn't say "Make Japan great again"... but she didn't need to.