Overview

• Takaichi won the ruling Liberal Democratic Party leadership, defeating Shinjiro Koizumi.
• A formal Diet vote will determine whether she becomes prime minister, as reported following the party contest.
• She is portrayed as a hardline conservative focused on national defence, tighter immigration policy, and Abenomics-style economic measures.
• Known for visits to the Yasukuni Shrine that have drawn regional criticism, she softened some of her rhetoric in this leadership race compared with past bids.
• She will confront a party described as in crisis and a sluggish economy, and she signaled she could seek to revisit an investment deal with U.S. President Donald Trump that eased tariffs.