Sanae Takaichi, the newly elected leader of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party, celebrates with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba after winning the LDP leadership election in Tokyo on Oct. 4. © Reuters
YUICHI SHIGA and YURIKA YONEDA
October 4, 2025 20:21 JST
TOKYO — Sanae Takaichi, former economic security minister, was elected leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Saturday and is likely to become the first female prime minister within two weeks, succeeding the outgoing Shigeru Ishiba.