Sanae Takaichi Elected Japan’s 105th Prime Minister (UPDATE 1)

The Japan News

15:01 JST, February 18, 2026

Sanae Takaichi, president of the Liberal Democratic Party, was elected as the 105th prime minister of Japan during a plenary session of the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

The House of Councillors also held a prime minister election, but Takaichi failed to secure a majority in the first round of voting. A runoff election was held between the top two vote-getters, Takaichi and Junya Ogawa, leader of the Centrist Reform Alliance. Takaichi, who received the higher number of votes, was elected prime minister.

Takaichi will form her second cabinet tonight.