Shigeru Ishiba won the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership election on Friday by securing 215 votes and is set to become the next prime minister of Japan.
The former defence minister won against Sanae Takaichi, who secured 194 votes.
The 67-year-old Ishiba has previously come close to securing the top position, notably in 2012 when he was defeated by nationalist Shinzo Abe, Japan’s longest-serving leader, who was later assassinated.
“I will bring back a vibrant Japan where people can live with a smile,” Ishiba had said last month.
The military model-maker, who has a fondness for 1970s pop idols, asserts that his experience addressing challenging social issues, including agricultural reforms, makes him well-suited for the role, AFP reported.
Regarded as an intellectual heavyweight within the LDP and a specialist in national security policy, he supports a more assertive Japan that aims to lessen its dependence on US for defense.
The LDP has governed Japan nearly uninterrupted for decades, with the main opposition parties seldom viewed as viable alternatives.
LDP presidents serve a three-year term and can be re-elected for up to three consecutive terms. Serving PM Fumio Kishida opted not to run for re-election.
During his tenure, Fumio Kishida has initiated efforts to double Japan’s defense spending and has opened the door for military exports as the LDP aims to revise the pacifist post-war constitution.
He welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to a G7 summit in Hiroshima and has worked to improve Japan’s often strained relations with South Korea.
However, his administration has also faced challenges, including scandals, public frustration over rising prices, and declining poll ratings.