Sanae Takaichi, Japan's Prime Minister contender and former economic security minister, speaks at the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election in Tokyo on October 4, 2025. KIM KYUNG-HOON / AFPConservative Sanae Takaichi hailed a "new era" on Saturday, October 4, after winning the leadership of Japan's ruling party, putting her on course to become the country's first woman prime minister. The 64-year-old, whose hero is Margaret Thatcher, said that a "mountain of work" lay ahead to restore the fortunes of her ailing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Takaichi, an arch-conservative who tempered her rhetoric in the LDP contest, will almost certainly be approved by parliament later this month as Japan's fifth prime minister in as many years. Work, work, work, work, work I shall," Takaichi said Saturday.