Nepal, March 4 -- Sanae Takaichi's electoral victory in February marks a historic turning point in Japanese politics. As Japan's first female prime minister and the leader of a commanding parliamentary majority, she represents change in both symbolic and strategic terms.

Conventional wisdom long held that younger Japanese voters leaned progressive, were sceptical of assertive security policies, and disengaged from ideological nationalism. Yet a segment of digitally active youth rallied behind a politician associated with constitutional revision, expanded defence capabilities, and a more unapologetic articulation of national identity.

This shift cannot be reduced to a simple conservative swing. Rather, Takaichi's rise reflects a deeper t...