Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the major opposition Japan Innovation Party (JIP) signed a coalition agreement on Monday, with LDP head Sanae Takaichi almost certain to become Japan’s first woman prime minister the following day, Kyodo News Agency reported.

Japan's Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Innovation Party have effectively agreed to form a coalition government, public broadcaster NHK said on Monday, citing a source familiar with the matter.

Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP), expressed concerns over a potential right-leani･･･

TOKYO -- Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party will hold its first leader-level policy talks with the opposition Japan Innovation Party on Thursday, as LDP head Sanae Takaichi seeks to build a coalition to secure enough parliamentary votes to be elected prime minister.

Sanae Takaichi took office on Tuesday 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.

Following the historic coalition deal between the Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Innovation Party, unease is growing within b