Tokyo, Sept. 20 -- Japan could soon see its first female prime minister, with Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) heavyweight Sanae Takaichi emerging as a leading contender in the party's leadership race, scheduled for 4 October.
Her candidacy in the highest echelon of political power is rare development, as women have rarely risen to the strongest positions of power.
Takaichi, 64, is a hard-line conservative and a long-time ally of the late former prime minister Shinzo Abe, whose policies she has pledged to continue.
A strong public favourite alongside agriculture minister Shinjiro Koizumi, she narrowly lost to outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in last year's runoff for the LDP leadership, reports Japan Times.
If victorious this time, ...