Overview

• Takaichi, 64, won the Liberal Democratic Party presidency on Oct. 4, marking the first time a woman has led the party in its 70‑year history.
• Editorials and experts say the leadership contest offered few concrete steps for a party reset, including weak proposals on funding transparency and internal governance.
• Analysts expect her to be nominated prime minister because opposition parties have not unified behind a single candidate in the coming extraordinary Diet session.
• The LDP enters this transition deeply weakened after major losses in last year’s lower‑house and July’s upper‑house elections that left it a minority in both chambers.
• Coverage notes a campaign focus on pledges such as “zero illegal foreigners,” raising concerns about prejudice, while reliance on factional ties persisted and party‑member votes proved decisive in her runoff victory.