TOKYO – 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.

She won a simple majority of 237 votes out of 465 in the Lower House, with the remaining votes split across numerous party leaders including the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan’s Mr Yoshihiko Noda, who was runner-up at 149 votes.