Sanae Takaichi set to become Japan’s first female prime minister

Sanae Takaichi stands as she was chosen as the new leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party during the party’s leadership election in Tokyo, Japan (Kyodo News via AP)

Japan’s governing party has elected former economic security minister Sanae Takaichi as its new leader, making her likely to become the country’s first female prime minister.

In a country that ranks poorly internationally for gender equality, Ms Takaichi would make history as the first female leader of Japan’s long-governing conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).