Liberal Democratic Party President Sanae Takaichi (centre) looks on ahead of an extraordinary session of the Lower House on Tuesday in Tokyo, where she was elected Japan’s first female prime minister. --Photo AFP

Sanae Takaichi makes history as Japan’s first female prime minister

JAPAN (The Japan Times/ANN) -- Liberal Democratic Party President Sanae Takaichi was elected prime minister by parliament Tuesday, shattering Japan’s glass ceiling to become the country’s first female leader.
Takaichi avoided a runoff by rolling to victory in a first round of voting in the Lower House, garnering 237 votes against Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan leader Yoshihiko Noda’s 149.
Lawmakers applauded Takaichi as she voted and welcomed her with another thunderous round of applause after her election.
Monday’s coalition agreement between the LDP and the Japan Innovation Party (JIP) had made a Takaichi victory all but certain by delivering the support needed to fend off any challenge from a united opposition.
Takaichi was on Tuesday morning already moving ahead with forming a Cabinet ahead of her formal election as prime minister. No lawmakers from the JIP — which is also known as Nippon Ishin no Kai — are expected to join the Cabinet.

 Early media reports suggest that some of her fellow contenders in the party presidential race — including Yoshimasa Hayashi, Shinjiro Koizumi and former Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi — could secure key Cabinet posts in the new administration. Hayashi and Koizumi, who served as the government’s top spokesman and farm minister, respectively, resigned en masse from the Cabinet of Shigeru Ishiba on Tuesday morning.
During her campaign for the LDP presidency, Takaichi had also hinted she would appoint a high number of female lawmakers if she took government.
Meanwhile, JIP parliamentary affairs chief Takashi Endo — one of the key architects of the coalition — is expected to be named adviser to the prime minister.
A former economic security and internal affairs minister, Takaichi has served in the Lower House for roughly 30 years.
She secured the LDP leadership earlier this month on her third attempt.

Police warn against rallies disrupting Asean Summit routes and proceedings
KUALA LUMPUR (The Star/ANN) --Stern action will be taken against demonstrations or rallies that disrupt routes or proceedings during the 47th Asean Summit, says Comm Datuk Fadil Marsus.
The Kuala Lumpur police chief said police have received intelligence on planned demonstrations during the event. “We have engaged the organisers of the rallies,” he said on October 21.
“We will take stern action against any gatherings that disrupt traffic, interrupt the Asean Summit or jeopardise public order,” added Comm Fadil. Several roads in the city centre will be closed and diverted in stages from October 26 to 28.
JSPT director Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri announced this earlier.

(Latest Update October 21, 2025)