Heavy metal fan, ex-biker chick and, now, PM-in-waiting

TOKYO - Ms Sanae Takaichi, 64, is poised to become Japan's first woman prime minister, following in the footsteps of her political role model - the late Margaret Thatcher, Britain's first female leader.

- Walter Sim

Much like the "Iron Lady" who led Britain from 1979 to 1990 and died at 87 in 2013, Ms Takaichi is a staunch conservative.

On Oct 4, she emerged victorious among five contenders to succeed outgoing premier Shigeru Ishiba in a ruling party election, after failed bids to lead the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in 2021 and 2024.

She is set to be named Japan's prime minister when the Diet convenes for an extraordinary session, likely on Oct 15.

During the hustings, she adopted a more moderate stance to broaden her appeal, toning down former ultraconservative positions and instead describing herself as a "moderate conservative".

Ms Takaichi's mentor was the late former prime minister Shinzo Abe, who appointed her to prominent party and government positions during his two spells in office from 2006 to 2007 and from 2012 to 2020.

The 10-term lawmaker is a self-made politician, raised in a deeply conservative household in Nara prefecture by a factory worker father and a policewoman mother.