Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s departure from traditional ties with corporate elites has drawn criticism from prominent business leaders who say her limited engagement disrupts longstanding government-industry relations. Since securing a decisive victory in the snap general election in February, Takaichi has largely eschewed direct meetings with senior executives and has reduced consultation with lobby groups such as Keidanren, Japan’s most influential business association.

Several senior business figures expressed frustration over the prime minister’s approach, despite acknowledging her pro-investment and business-friendly policies. Yoshinori Isozaki, chief executive of Kirin Holdings, compared Takaichi’s limited dialogue with the corporate and media sectors to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s often dismissive stance toward experts and institutions. Isozaki noted that Takaichi avoids the routine dinners, lunches, and informal gatherings that previous prime ministers used to cultivate consensus and maintain close ties with Japan’s largest companies.

Unlike her predecessors, Takaichi reportedly prefers solitary meals and relies heavily on briefing materials, moving away from the informal, behind-the-scenes meetings through which Japanese corporations have traditionally influenced policymaking. This shift has unsettled some business leaders amid ongoing economic challenges, including a weakened yen and ambitious government spending plans, alongside critiques of her alignment with Trump’s policies.

Keidanren, however, disputes claims that the prime minister has been unresponsive. The group cited three official meetings with Takaichi over the past year, including a lunch with its chairperson last month, and expressed agreement with her vision for an “investment-driven economy.” Meanwhile, Takaichi’s public approval ratings have remained above 50 percent, indicating a degree of popular support for her governance style.

Observers suggest that Takaichi’s distancing from established business and bureaucratic networks reflects a broader political realignment. Tobias Harris, a political analyst at Japan Foresight, said the prime minister’s reluctance to consult traditional elites stems from skepticism over their effectiveness, noting her view that if those advisors had been competent, Japan would not be facing decades of economic stagnation.

Political scientist Mieko Nakabayashi of Waseda University interprets Takaichi’s approach as resonating with voter dissatisfaction toward entrenched elites and conventional political maneuvering. Nakabayashi described the prime minister as presenting a marked break from the “old-style” politics that have long characterized Japan’s political landscape, posing an alternative that appeals to citizens seeking change.