Ruling LDP's Sanae Takaichi takes helm as Japan's 1st female prime minister

Takaichi has become the 104th prime minister of Japan.

The first parliamentary vote began at 1.08 pm local time (0408GMT) which was broadcast live on the state-run NHK.

Takaichi secured 237 votes in lower house, enough votes with the backing of the Japan Innovation Party (JIP), which formed a coalition with the LDP, as well as with independents.

A premier needs a minimum support of 233 lawmakers in the 465-seat lower house of the bicameral parliament.

However, the premier election went for a runoff in upper house of the parliament where Takaichi secured a minimum 125 votes, against her main opponent Yoshihiko Noda, head of the largest opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan.

The upper house has 246 lawmakers.

Takaichi was elected during the 219th extraordinary session of the parliament, locally known as Diet in Japan.

Soon after the election, Takaichi is set to announce her Cabinet lineup.

Shinjiro Koizumi is expected to be appointed defense minister, Toshimitsu Motegi is likely to become the foreign minister, and Yoshimasa Hayashi is expected to be allotted the internal affairs portfolio.

Earlier in the day, outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and his Cabinet resigned to pave the way for the election of the new leader.

Last month, Ishiba resigned after facing intense pressure and criticism from within the ruling LDP over consecutive election defeats. Takaichi was elected LDP's first female president early this month.

This followed the LDP-led coalition's loss of its majority in the upper house election on July 20, which came after a similar loss in the Lower House in October 2024.

Ishiba was the fourth Japanese prime minister to resign in just five years, following Shinzo Abe, Yoshihide Suga, and Fumio Kishida.

The LDP has almost uninterruptedly ruled Japan, except for six years.