Of Course Japan's New Prime Minister Owns A Turbo Supra

Takaichi's Supra turbo has been on display at the Mahoroba Museum in her hometown of Nara, Japan, since 2022. Car enthusiasts and fans of Takaichi have been flocking there to check out her classic Toyota. Attendance at the museum has gone from about 50 people per weekend to around 200 visitors since Takaichi became the president of the Liberal Democratic Party in early October.

As the president of the party and the leader of the ruling government coalition, experts believe that Takaichi is nearly guaranteed to win the parliament's vote to become Japan's new prime minister on October 15.

More To Know About Takaichi's Supra

The video above offers a glimpse of Takaichi's old Supra on display at the museum. Takaichi told the Weekly Shincho newspaper: "I was looking forward to it even before it was released. It took a long time to get the metallic pearl white finish, so I waited a long time." In 1991, the car cost approximately 4.3 million yen ($28,195 at current exchange rates). She used the sports coupe to travel to meet her constituency while running for office. She also made some trips between Tokyo and Nara, a roughly five-hour journey, after becoming a member of the House of Representatives.

After using the Supra for over two decades, Takaichi put the Supra into storage for roughly 10 years. Then, the Nara Toyota dealer acquired the vehicle and restored it to like-new condition. The automaker's GR Heritage Parts Project makes new components available for the brand's classic models. It even restored a black third-gen Supra recently.

The Supra 2.5GT Twin-Turbo Limited came with the most powerful engine available in the third-generation model. The twin-turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-six pumped out 276 horsepower and 268 pound-feet of torque. Takaichi opted for the four-speed automatic transmission. The cabin had a combination of burgundy leather and cloth. The car also came with amenities such as a power sunroof and a rear window wiper.

Enthusiasts in Japan will have the opportunity to see Takaichi's Supra on the move soon. On November 3, five cars from the collection will take a roughly 2.5-hour drive from Nara to Kashikojima Island.

Two-Wheeled Fun With Takaichi

Takaichi is a fan of two-wheeled performance, too. In addition to the Supra, she also previously owned a Kawasaki Z400GP motorcycle in the 1980s. The sporty model features a four-cylinder, 400-cc engine that produces 48 hp and is capable of revving past 10,000 rpm.

"During high school, I worked hard at part-time jobs to earn money for college. I got a motorcycle license and rode a large motorcycle for transportation," she told ​​​​​​the Sankei Shimbun newspaper.

As Prime Minister, Takaichi aims to reduce taxes and increase subsidies. She also wants to forge a closer relationship with Taiwan, including improving economic trade, security, and technological cooperation.