Japan's ruling party elects Sanae Takaichi as new leader, likely to become first female PM

Former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi, center, stands as Takaichi was chosen to a new leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party during the party's leadership election in Tokyo, Japan, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (Yohei Fukai/Kyodo News via AP)

Sanae Takaichi, the newly-elected leader of Japan's ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), attends a press conference after the LDP presidential election in Tokyo Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (Yuichi Yamazaki/Pool Photo via AP)

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s governing party on Saturday elected former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi, a hard-line ultra-conservative and China hawk, 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, the 64-year-old Takaichi makes history as the first female leader of

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