Sanae Takaichi has made history as Japan’s first female prime minister after winning a closely contested vote yesterday.
The 64-year-old conservative, often called Japan’s Iron Lady and a protégé of the late Shinzo Abe, finally succeeded in her third attempt to lead the country.
She becomes the fourth leader in five years from the scandal-hit Liberal Democratic Party.
An admirer of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Takaichi faces daunting tasks ahead reviving Japan’s struggling economy, managing delicate relations with the United States, and uniting her party’s divided factions.
US President Donald Trump earlier described her as a highly respected figure with great wisdom.