Sanae Takaichi makes history as Japan's first woman prime minister

In a landmark moment for Japan, Ms Sanae Takaichi has risen to the nation’s highest political office and become its first woman prime minister after a parliamentary vote on Oct 21.

- Walter Sim Japan Correspondent

But any hopes that her appointment will lead to better gender equality might be premature, as she named just two women to her 18-member Cabinet team.

Her coronation as Japan’s 104th prime minister came after she prevailed in the PM election in both the Lower and Upper Houses, with the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan’s Mr Yoshihiko Noda the runner-up.

In the 465-seat Lower House, Ms Takaichi scored a simple majority of 237 votes, with several independents also believed to have supported her. Her road to victory, however, was not so clear-cut in the 248-member Upper House, where it took a runoff before she was declared the winner with 125 votes.

"From now on, I will work tirelessly, fearlessly and with determination, for the sake of our nation and its people," she told reporters in her first press conference as prime minister. "I have a clear resolve to build a strong Japanese economy while protecting Japan's national interests through diplomacy and security."

Ms Takaichi, 64, often described as a hardline conservative who is both a security hawk and fiscal dove, is a protege of the late former prime minister Shinzo Abe.

Elected leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Oct 4, her elevation to the top job was thrown into doubt by the sudden dissolution of the 26-year coalition with Komeito on Oct 10.

Yet just 10 days later, the LDP entered a new "coalition pact" with the Osaka-based, centre-right Japan Innovation Party (JIP), also known as Nippon Ishin no Kai. This official description has been disputed by some political experts, since the JIP was not given any Cabinet posts and is hence not part of Ms Takaichi’s government.

Regardless, the LDP promised substantial concessions to the JIP for its support in Parliament, although Ms Takaichi still leads a minority government as the two parties are just shy of a majority in both Chambers.