October, Sanae Takaichi became the first woman to stand at the lectern of Japan’s parliamentary hall as prime minister. Now, the test is whether she can deliver on her promises.

Over the past twelve months, Takaichi has proved to be an astute communicator who has laid out a bold vision for reviving Japan’s drifting economy and boosting its defense posture with a record budget. Her plans for unprecedented state support in strategic sectors helped send stocks to record highs, although concerns over how she’ll pay for it all spiked 30- and 40-year bond yields.

But as Takaichi enters her second year in power there is a fundamental mismatch between perceptions of her leadership at home and abroad. While her easy rapport with the likes of Donald Trump and sweeping landslide victory have given the impression of a strong leader on the world stage, within her own party she lacks a reliable constituency of support.

Instead, Takaichi’s power comes from her public popularity and ability to win the ruling Liberal Democratic Party elections — a dynamic that could make her vulnerable if she fails to satisfy public expectations.

“There’s considerable dissatisfaction within the Liberal Democratic Party, so if the administration’s approval rating drops significantly, that will make her standing uncertain,” said Koji Nakakita, professor of political science at Chuo University, who pointed to the party’s internal leadership race next year. “The cycle is working — for now. They’re maintaining high approval ratings and winning elections.”Whether Takaichi can be a lasting force remains to be seen in a country that has cycled through five leaders in the past decade. Unlike many previous premiers, she lacks a faction in the LDP, doesn’t hail from a political dynasty and spends less time working with ministries, accentuating her isolation.

Takaichi last week got a taste of the type of troubles that plagued her predecessors when her first cabinet minister resigned in a vote-buying scandal. A protracted fight earlier this year to push through a sales tax cut that was a key election promise also exposed the limits to her power — despite having won the biggest single-party majority in the powerful lower house since World War II.

In the months ahead, Takaichi is going to need to drive a ¥143 trillion ($894 billion) budget past lawmakers, keep consumer prices down and flesh out her signature 14-year, ¥370 trillion investment blueprint. For the latter, she’ll need to corral support from corporate titans across industries — from chips to aerospace — encouraging them to match government investments.

Takaichi will also need to manage strained ties with China, which is tightening export controls on its neighbor. Japanese officials recently warned the US their country is months away from running out of supplies of yttrium, as Beijing chokes supply of the rare earth used in chip manufacturing, the Financial Times reported, citing sources.

While Japan’s leader will travel to the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen next month for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders’ summit, President Xi Jinping has so far shown no sign of backing off and Takaichi has refused to retract her comments suggesting Japan could become embroiled in a Chinese invasion of Taiwan — the self-ruled chip hub the Communist Party considers its own.

Takaichi came to power with Japan still adjusting to the new reality of living alongside inflation, after decades without it — a problem exacerbated by a persistently weak yen.

While inflation in Japan remains lower than many global peers like the US and France, public frustrations are growing. An Asahi Daily poll over the weekend showed 59% of respondents aren’t happy with how Takaichi is handling inflation, in line with other recent surveys. That discontent has added urgency to Takaichi’s pledge to slash the sales tax on food from 8% to 1% next April to help households.

The two-year expiration date on that move, however, plants a political time bomb. While she has proposed a cash-handout and income-linked tax-credit for 2029 to blunt the impact, there isn’t consensus over how either will be implemented.

Details on how she’ll pay for a resulting ¥4 trillion shortfall in annual tax revenue from the cut have also yet to be defined, even though the bill has been submitted to parliament for debate. Takaichi has vowed she won’t rely on special deficit-covering bonds to fund the cut, as she also tries to keep to her pledge to reduce the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio.

The consumption levy is also sensitive because it has typically been used to fund public healthcare, nursing and pensions. Even the replacement cash-handout could be a point of controversy for Takaichi, said Katsuhiro Yoneshige, CEO of news data company JX Press Corp. Many voters would simply prefer to avoid being taxed so highly, he said.

Outside Japan, there are expectations for Japan’s first female leader for fundamental change on social issues and industrial policy, said Mieko Nakabayashi, a professor of political science at Waseda University. “Takaichi can make grand, bold claims, but there are still doubts over whether the details have really been thought through,” she added.