A Trump visit, a creaking coalition and a cost-of-living crisis: Japan’s new PM needs a fast start

Sanae Takaichi has made history but will have little time to settle in before negotiating the pitfalls of rising prices, power struggles and a mercurial US president

It is hard to overstate the symbolism of Sanae Takaichi's achievement on Tuesday in becoming the first female prime minister of Japan, a country that consistently ranks poorly in global gender equality comparisons, not least in politics and business.

However, she will have precious little time to savour her historic appointment.