Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has elected Sanae Takaichi as its new leader, paving the way for her to become the country’s first female prime ministerTokyo: Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) elected former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi as its new leader on Saturday, positioning her to become the nation’s first female prime minister. The leadership election was triggered by the resignation of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. As the LDP remains the largest party in Japan’s lower house, its leader is virtually assured of becoming the next prime minister. Five candidates, including Takaichi, Koizumi, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, Trade Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, and Economic Minister Takayuki Kobayashi, had initially contested the leadership. Koizumi, her rival, would have been the youngest prime minister in more than a century had he won.