Takaichi avoided a runoff by rolling to victory in a first round of voting in the Lower House, garnering 237 votes against Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan leader Yoshihiko Noda’s 149.
Lawmakers applauded Takaichi as she voted and welcomed her with another thunderous round of applause after her election.
Monday’s coalition agreement between the LDP and the Japan Innovation Party (JIP) had made a Takaichi victory all but certain by delivering the support needed to fend off any challenge from a united opposition.
Takaichi was on Tuesday morning already moving ahead with forming a Cabinet ahead of her formal election as prime minister. No lawmakers from the JIP — which is also known as Nippon Ishin no Kai — are expected to join the Cabinet.
