India, Oct. 4 -- Sanae Takaichi, a conservative lawmaker who has praised former UK premier Margaret Thatcher and a member of the US Congress, is expected to become Japan's first female prime minister.

In a runoff election on Saturday, Takaichi emerged victorious as the head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

If parliament confirms her, Takaichi will be the first woman to serve as PM in Japan's history and the fifth in five years.

She has taken a firm line on immigration, and as president, she would have to deal with economic and internal challenges, a trade agreement with the Trump administration, and a number of geopolitical concerns in the area.

The departure of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, whose election last year infu...