Overview

• Kyodo News reported that the parliamentary vote to confirm Sanae Takaichi as prime minister is likely to slip from Oct. 15 to the week of Oct. 20 due to strains with coalition partner Komeito.
• The Yomiuri Shimbun and Asahi Shimbun said Takaichi is considering skipping a visit to Yasukuni Shrine during the Oct. 17–19 autumn festival to avoid straining ties with China and South Korea and potential criticism from the United States ahead of President Donald Trump’s expected Tokyo trip.
• Takaichi, 64, won the Liberal Democratic Party runoff on Oct. 4 by 185–156 over Shinjiro Koizumi, positioning her to become Japan’s first female prime minister once the Diet votes.
• She named former finance minister Shunichi Suzuki as LDP secretary general on Taro Aso’s recommendation, and reports say Toshimitsu Motegi is likely to return as foreign minister.
• Coverage highlights her support for tax cuts and higher spending, a stance that contrasts with the Finance Ministry’s fiscal discipline, while Seoul voices cautious optimism about pragmatic diplomacy.