Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party leadership election has been extensively viewed, domestically. However, the wider world has also been watching the crucial contest closely too, not least G7 allies in the West given the importance of Tokyo to this club of industrialized nations. The word historic is often overused, but this contest genuinely met that high benchmark. This is not least because the victor Sanae Takaichi, announced on Saturday, is now widely expected to become the nation’s first female prime minister.

Japan may see its first woman Prime Minister or youngest leader as candidates vie for ruling party leadership.

She was elected LDP president on Saturday after winning a run-off vote against Shinjiro Koizumi, the son of a former prime minister.

Takaichi, likely to become Japan’s first female PM, is a rightwinger who has been critical of China and focused on migration in her campaign

If elected, Takaichi will face a host of issues, including an ageing population and growing unease about immigration.

Margaret Thatcher admirer beat her more moderate rival to become leader of Liberal Democratic party

Japan's governing party on Saturday elected former economic security minister Sanae Takaichi, a hardline ultra-conservative and China hawk, as its new leader.

A popular nationalist, Sanae Takaichi decisively wins run-off vote to become leader of governing LDP

Japan's ruling party picked hardline conservative Sanae Takaichi as its head, putting her on course to become the country's first female prime minister.

Japan’s ruling party has chosen hardline conservative Sanae Takaichi to lead, putting her on track to make history as the country’s first female prime...

Conservative views on sensitive matters, including Japan’s wartime history and Taiwan, may rock already strained ties with Beijing, analysts warn.

Takaichi, 64, beat out her competitor Shinjiro Koizumi to become the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) who have been in power almost continuously since 1955.

Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party leadership election has been extensively viewed, domestically. However, the wider world has also been watching the crucial contest closely too,…

Sanae Takaichi, Japan's potential first female Prime Minister, is an ultra-conservative leader with controversial views on gender and history.

TOKYO: In a country that ranks poorly internationally for gender equality, the new president of Japan’s long-governing Liberal Democrats, and likely next prime minister, is an…

Sanae Takaichi favors looser fiscal and monetary policies, raising expectations that Tokyo will issue more debt while the central bank rethinks rate hikes.