Sanae Takaichi, the new leader of Japan's governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), speaks during the leadership election in Tokyo on October 4, 2025. Kyodo News/AP

Japan’s governing party on Saturday elected former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi as its new leader, making her likely to become the country’s first female prime minister.

In a country that ranks poorly internationally for gender equality, Takaichi would make history as the first female leader of Japan’s long-governing conservative Liberal Democratic Party. She is one of the most conservative members of the male-dominated party.

Takaichi beat Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, the son of popular former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, in a runoff in an intraparty vote by the LDP on Saturday.

Takaichi rep

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