Sanae Takaichi took office as Japan's first female prime minister, but her surprisingly male-dominated cabinet and socially conservative track record have left some women ambivalent in a country that lags on gender equality.

However, she will not commit to any new defence spending target at the meeting with the US leader. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Japan's Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Innovation Party have broadly agreed to form a coalition government, setting the stage for the country's first female prime minister,

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.