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Heavy metal devotee Sanae Takaichi, 64, has won Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party leadership, becoming the first woman to hold the post, but her path to the premiership is uncertain. Komeito, the LDP's longtime partner, refused to join her government amid mistrust over a party slush fund scandal, forcing her to hunt for allies. If she forms a coalition, she inherits inflation, a weak yen and a shrinking population, while touting 'Sanaenomics.' A China hawk and Abe protege, she has already signaled pragmatism, postponing a Yasukuni visit and weighing a $550 billion Japan-US investment deal.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.