Tokyo: From pounding drums in a college heavy metal band to steering the political helm of the world’s third-largest economy, Sanae Takaichi’s journey to the top is as unconventional as it is historic. Newly elected as the leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Takaichi is poised to become the nation’s first woman prime minister, breaking a glass ceiling while charting a distinctly conservative path.

The 64-year-old, widely described as a staunch conservative, won Saturday’s party leadership election by defeating Shinjiro Koizumi, the 44-year-old son of a former prime minister, and seasoned politician Yoshimasa Hayashi. Analysts note that her victory signals continuity for the LDP’s right-wing faction rather than a shift toward progressive politics. Once confirmed by p

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