TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s parliament elected ultraconservative Sanae Takaichi as the country’s first female prime minister Tuesday, a day after her struggling party struck a coalition deal with a new partner expected to pull her governing bloc further to the right.

Sanae Takaichi was named Japan's first woman prime minister Tuesday, with the social conservative saying she wanted "candid discussions" with US President Donald Trump just days ahead of his visit to Tokyo.

Japan's parliament on Tuesday elected ultraconservative Sanae Takaichi as the country's first female prime minister, and she underlined her commitment to boosting Japanese defense as she prepared to host visiting U.

Japan ranks low in gender equality among developed nations. The first woman to lead the country is an ultraconservative who cites Margaret Thatcher as a role model. She also loves heavy metal.

Parliament appointed Sanae Takaichi, an admirer of Margaret Thatcher, as prime minister on Tuesday, after she unexpectedly won a majority in a first round of voting.

TOKYO (AFP) — Japan's ruling LDP and its junior partner signed a coalition deal Monday, paving the way for Sanae Takaichi to become the country's first woman premier. The 11th-hour agreement with the Japan Innovation Party came just a day before the lower house was due to vote on Takaichi's appointment as the fifth prime minister in as many years.

After two sessions of round-robin play, China, Japan and United States women have won two games each. China followed up their tight 6-5 win over Korea with a more straightforward 11-2 victory over Mexico,

Sanae Takaichi is on track to become Japan's first female prime minister after her governing party secured a crucial coalition partner.

Japan was set to get its first woman prime minister on Tuesday after Sanae Takaichi, a China hawk and social conservative, forged an 11th-hour deal to form a new coalition.Parliament was set to approve Takaichi as prime minister on Tuesday afternoon and she will formally take office after meeting the emperor later.

Hardline conservative Sanae Takaichi was elected Japan's first female prime minister on Tuesday, shattering a political glass ceiling for women and setting the country up for a decisive turn to the right.