Japan was set to get its first woman prime minister on Tuesday after Sanae Takaichi, a China hawk and social conservative, forged an 11th-hour deal to form a new coalition.

But Japan's fifth premier in as many years will lead a minority government and has a full in-tray, not least a scheduled visit by US President Donald Trump next week.

Parliament was set to approve Takaichi as prime minister on Tuesday afternoon and she will formally take office after meeting the emperor later.

She won on October 4 the leadership of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has governed almost non-stop for decades but is increasingly unpopular.

But six days later the Komeito party, uncomfortable about Takaichi's conservative views and an LDP slush fund scandal, quit their coalition.

This forced Taka

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