In Japan, soon-to-be Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will lean into populism, spurring near-term growth but exacerbating long-term economic challenges, while her nationalism will bolster Japan's military and boost U.S. ties even as it strains those with Japan's neighbors. On Oct. 4, Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party held a party leadership election, with conservative candidate and former economic security minister Sanae Takaichi beating LDP reformer and Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi in a runoff vote. The election clears the way for Takaichi to become Japan's next prime minister after a Diet vote tentatively scheduled for Oct. 15. Following the election, there have been interparty talks about the LDP expanding its current minority coalition with center-left Komeito to form a majority government, while Takaichi has revealed her very conservative Cabinet lineup.