Sanae Takaichi has made history as Japan's first female prime minister, but her cabinet's lack of gender diversity, with only two women among 19 ministers, raises concerns about her commitment to advancing women's rights.

Hardline conservative Sanae Takaichi has been elected Japan's first female prime minister after a whirlwind few weeks of political wrangling.

The new Japanese prime minister and LDP leader has been elected partly to see off a surging far right, at a time of significant change in society.

Japan's parliament elected Sanae Takaichi as the country's first female prime minister Tuesday, after her party struck a coalition deal expected to pull her governing bloc further to the right.

The spouse of Japan's first woman Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi hopes to support her by being a "stealth husband", cooking meals but staying out of the spotlight.