The husband of Japan’s newly appointed first female Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, has publicly committed to a “stealth husband” role, declaring his intention to support her from the background by managing their home life and avoiding the public spotlight.
Taku Yamamoto, a former lawmaker himself, stated he would cook for his wife and keep a low profile to ensure his presence does not hinder her vision as Prime Minister.
“Unlike in the Western world, it would be better if spouses stayed out of the spotlight,” Mr. Yamamoto told Fukui Television on Tuesday, just one day after Ms. Takaichi assumed the premiership.
He emphasized the importance of Ms. Takaichi, who won leadership of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) this month, working effectively with the coalition government. “I want to provide stable support as a ‘stealth husband’ to ensure my presence doesn’t become an obstacle to that,” he was quoted as saying by multiple Japanese media outlets, including Asahi and Fuji TV.
In a further departure from traditional Japanese customs, Mr. Yamamoto took his wife’s surname upon their second marriage. This decision aligns with Ms. Takaichi’s political stance opposing changes to 19th-century law that typically requires wives to adopt their husbands’ surnames.
Ms. Takaichi’s appointment as Prime Minister followed the last-minute formation of a coalition government. She made history as the first woman to hold Japan’s top political office.
Both Mr. Yamamoto and Ms. Takaichi were formerly members of the LDP. They initially married in 2004 but divorced in 2017, citing “differences in political views.”
The couple remarried in 2021 after Mr. Yamamoto supported Ms. Takaichi’s bid for LDP leadership that same year. Despite later losing his own bid for a parliamentary seat, he told media he wants to leverage his political experience to aid his wife.
Mr. Yamamoto, who says he is a good cook, plans to support Ms. Takaichi by preparing meals for her. The couple resides together in a Tokyo parliamentary residence.
Ms. Takaichi reportedly provides care for Mr. Yamamoto, who has faced recent health challenges including a stroke and a prostate cancer diagnosis this year.