Sanae Takaichi Elected Leader of Japan's Ruling Party, Poised to Become First Female Prime Minister

"...hard-line ultra-conservative and China hawk..."

"...male-dominated party..."

"...admiration for Margaret Thatcher..."

"...regular at the Yasukuni Shrine, seen as a symbol of Japan's wartime militarism..."

"...could complicate Tokyo's relations with its Asian neighbors..."

"...son of popular former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi..."

"...major election losses..."

"...highly splintered..."

"...stood up and bowed to fellow party members..."

"...savoring joy..."

"...overwhelmed by what's ahead, a mountain of challenges..."

"...energetic and cheerful..."

"...change the people's worries into hope..."

"...can't rebuild our party..."

"...consecutive losses in parliamentary elections..."

"...needs its new leader to quickly bring back voter confidence and stability..."

"...address challenges in and outside Japan..."

"...cooperation from key opposition groups..."

"...achieved a 15% tariff deal with Washington..."

"...put Japan's ties with South Korea and other Asian countries on track..."

"...serve for the country and the people, as well as the world and for the new era..."

"...virtually forced into resigning by ultra-conservative wings in the party..."

"...only reflected 1% of the Japanese public..."

"...prolonged political vacuum..."

"...diplomatic test..."

"...demand that Japan increase its defense spending..."

"...emerging far-right groups such as Sanseito..."

"...neglected..."

"...expand its current coalition..."

"...called herself a 'moderate conservative'..."

"...willingness to work with the opposition..."

"...stayed away from stressing her opposition to liberal social issues or anti-China policies..."

"...bigger fiscal spending for growth..."

"...stronger military and cybersecurity..."

"...tougher regulations on increasing foreign tourists and laborers..."

"...criticized for citing unconfirmed reports..."

"...slam foreigners for kicking deer in Nara..."

"...saying many foreign law offenders escaped indictments due to a shortage of translators..."

"...avoided discussing their usual political views on historical issues, same-sex marriage and other contentious topics..."

"...political funds scandal..."

"...biggest reason for their election losses..."

"...anti-corruption measures..."

"...raised doubts over the party's ability to regain public trust..."