Six months have passed since Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took office. After her ruling party's landslide victory in a February general election for the House of Representatives, Takaichi has built a stable power base that could be described as one of unchallenged dominance.

Her ability to maintain high approval ratings likely reflects both her willingness to tackle a wide range of policies and the public's favorable view of her habit of explaining those policies in her own words.

Looking back over the past half year, on diplomacy she has maintained good relations with the U.S. administration of President Donald Trump. At their first summit meeting, the two leaders projected unity, and at a second meeting held as tensions over Iran intensified, she handled well a moment in which Japan was pressed to contribute to ensuring security in the Strait of Hormuz.

Conditions for exporting defense equipment have also been eased.

On the economic front, the government is accelerating debate around two pillars: "crisis-management investment" and "growth investment." As the world enters an era of competition through industrial policy, the attempt to spur investment by selecting 17 strategic fields deserves credit.

However, challenges have........

© Japan Today