Japan’s lower house of parliament on Tuesday elected Sanae Takaichi as the country’s first woman prime minister, a landmark in the nation’s political history. The 64-year-old conservative, known for her outspoken criticism of China, won 237 votes, comfortably clearing the majority threshold in the 465-seat chamber, according to lower house staff.

Takaichi is expected to be endorsed by the less-powerful upper house as well and sworn in this evening as Japan’s 104th prime minister, succeeding Shigeru Ishiba, who resigned last month after taking responsibility for election losses. She will formally assume office after meeting the emperor later on Tuesday.

Takaichi, a former heavy metal drummer, became leader of the long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on October 4, at a time when the

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