Meet Japan’s first female PM Sanae Takaichi’s husband: The one who takes his wife's surname and cooks her delicious food

It’s only fitting that behind every Iron Lady, there must be a man — rather delicate, and devoted to housework, as his wife steps out to run the country!The land of the rising sun is showing the way, and we must take note.Sanae Takaichi, 64, made history this month as she became the first female Prime Minister of Japan — an accomplishment etched in milestone for a political landscape that’s been long dominated by men. Her rise to power has been fairly charismatic — but behind closed doors, what has kept her going is not just her grit, but her husband’s almost unwavering dedication.

Taku Yamamoto, a former lawmaker and husband to Japan’s Iron Lady, has been the quiet strength and force that has driven Sanae Takaichi to the pinnacle of her political success.

He’s not one of those men who have managed to steal his wife’s thunder and make all of it about himself. Rather, Yamamoto has taken a step back, let his wife have her moment in the limelight, and bask in the glory of her hard-earned success — while keeping a low profile himself.In a way, it’s how harmony works — when one side goes big, the other holds the fort at home.But the journey of the couple has been far from a cakewalk. The very field Takaichi has found success in, was once the reason behind the separation and estrangement of the couple.

So, what brought them back together after those challenges?

The man who stayed behind

Who is Taku Yamamoto? He’s the husband of Japan’s first female PM — that’s what the Google searches would tell you. However, Yamamoto’s story goes slightly beyond the usual portrait of a supportive husband — he’s a sensible one. His dedication to his wife doesn’t come solely from a sacrificial mindset — it stems from the idea of “compartmentalize and conquer,” where you divide responsibilities and do a better job at them than juggling all at once.Taku Yamamoto, perhaps, is one of those men who don’t chase after the “main character energy” in every sphere of their lives — rather, they prioritize, draw boundaries, and act accordingly. And this doesn’t make them less involved in a relationship — if anything, it helps the relationship be more functional and lets it thrive.

Yamamoto and Takaichi’s relationship is a testament.How did the relationship start, flourish, and even perish for a while?

The first chapter: Marriage

Sanae Takaichi and Taku Yamamoto first tied the knot in 2004.

Back then, both were members of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and had known each other for some time. However, their relationship deepened after Takaichi lost her Lower House seat in 2003.After that, Yamamoto stepped in — reportedly helping her office and allies — and later proposed to Takaichi: “If you’re seriously looking for a marriage partner, I’m divorced, so I’ll run as a candidate.”

Even the very first milestone in their marriage was interesting enough! Under Japanese law, married couples must share the same surname.

So, after tying the knot, Takaichi legally assumed Yamamoto’s surname but continued to use “Takaichi” professionally.Yamamoto and Takaichi represented what we call a “power couple” now, back in the 2000s — sharing both personal and professional spaces, and advancing in their political lives!But as irony would have it — politics came in the way of their marital relationship after 13 years. The couple divorced in 2017, citing “differences in political views” as the reason.

In fact, it was a particularly public split given both their profiles in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

The second chapter: Separation and pause

Although the couple went their separate ways in their personal lives, Yamamoto continued to support Takaichi’s career. When she ran for LDP leadership in 2021, he backed her. After four years of personal distance and professional proximity, later in 2021 — the couple remarried.

The third chapter: Marriage 2.0

This time, during their second innings in marriage, Yamamoto flipped the script — he legally adopted Takaichi’s surname to comply with Japan’s law requiring married couples to share a family name, socially and symbolically reinforcing her prominence.

Not only did their reunion suggest a partnership of equals and their shared politics, but Yamamoto’s gesture also spoke to mutual respect and unconventional support.

More than that, his “unconventional” act signaled both a shift in traditional roles and a quiet endorsement of her ascending public profile.

The fourth chapter: Domestic dynamic

While Yamamoto has publicly declared his intention to act as a “stealth husband”, remaining behind the scenes to ensure Takaichi can focus on her role as she readies herself to run the country, this role-reversal isn’t a new addition to their decades-spanning relationship.As per AFP (that cited Jiji Press), Yamamoto, in fact, first proposed to Takaichi over the phone two decades ago, reportedly telling her, “As I have a chef’s license, I’ll make sure you eat delicious food throughout your life.”Decades later, Yamamoto still holds the same beliefs.According to AFP, Yamamoto spoke to a local news channel after Takaichi assumed office and emphasized having a better balance in a marital relationship, saying, “Unlike in the West, it is better for a partner to stay out of the spotlight.”

He reportedly added, “I want to provide solid support as ‘a stealth husband’ to ensure that my presence does not become an obstacle.”

And how exactly does he plan to deliver on that?The same way he has been holding for at home, during their marriage. Despite the highs and lows of their relationship, Yamamoto has maintained his place in the kitchen, reportedly telling Takaichi, “The kitchen is my domain, so please don’t enter.”And how does Takaichi respond to that?Yamamoto has faced serious health issues of late — including being diagnosed with prostate cancer last year and suffering a cerebral infarction (stroke) this year, which left part of his body paralyzed.

In this difficult time, Takaichi has taken on a caregiving role while managing her high-stakes leadership position.This arrangement has not only flipped a traditional script — a woman politician running the state while the husband runs the house — but also has cemented the so-called “utopia” that gender equality can not only exist, but thrive in harmony.

The story continues...

Will Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s Iron Lady, prove her mettle to be at par with the one she idolizes — Margaret Thatcher? The similarities between the two Iron Ladies are uncanny — Denis Thatcher, who was running his family's firm, Atlas Preservatives, had received a seat on Castrol's board after Burmah Oil took over Castrol in 1966, retired from Burmah in June 1975, four months after his wife won the Conservative Party leadership election.

When his wife ran the country from 1979 to 1990, Denis held the fort at home — although Thatcher was quite a conventional and dedicated wife.In Takaichi’s case, Yamamoto’s support for her goes beyond simple dedication — it’s closer to being a scripture of a devoted partnership. So far, that factor has sustained them — both personally and professionally. Now that Takaichi has taken the highest office, will it be the key to her reign? We’ve yet to see.