Sanae Takaichi becomes Japan's 104th prime minister, the first woman to hold the office

Sanae Takaichi, chair of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party, received the support of a majority of members of the lower house of the Japanese parliament on Tuesday and will become the country's new prime minister. She received 237 votes in the ballot, thereby fulfilling the requirement of a majority in the 465-seat chamber.

The upper house is expected to confirm her election on Tuesday, and Takaichi will be sworn in as Japan's 104th head of government. She succeeds former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who resigned after his party's defeat in the last election.

With the election of Sanae Takaichi, Japan will have a woman in the highest government office for the first time.

(reuters, sie)