STORY: Japan's ruling party picked conservative nationalist Sanae Takaichi as its new head on Saturday (October 4), putting her on course to become the country's first female prime minister.

The Liberal Democratic Party elected Takaichi, 64, to regain trust from a public angered by rising prices and drawn to opposition groups promising big stimulus and clampdowns on foreigners.

A vote in parliament to choose a prime minister to replace Shigeru Ishiba is expected to be held on October 15.

The new LDP president is likely to succeed Shigeru Ishiba as leader of the world's fourth-biggest economy because the party, which has governed Japan for almost all the postwar period, is the biggest in parliament. But this is not assured as the party and its coalition partner lost their majorities in both houses under Ishiba in the past year.

Takaichi, the only woman among the five LDP candidates, beat a challenge from the more moderate Shinjiro Koizumi, 44, who was bidding to become the country's youngest leader in the modern era.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: TOKYO, JAPAN (OCTOBER 4, 2025) (FOREIGN POOL - Access all)

1. ELECTORAL TEAM COUNTING BALLOT

2. CAMERA CREW FILMING

3. LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY ELECTION ORGANISER ANNOUNCING RESULT OF RUNOFF

4. AUDIENCE AWAITING RESULT/ AUDIO OF ANNOUNCEMENT OF SANAE TAKAICHI WINNING ELECTION / TAKAICHI STANDING AND BOWING AND LAWMAKERS CLAPPING