Fumio Kishida all set to become new Japan PM, will succeed Yoshihide Suga

A former banker from Hiroshima, Kishida spearheaded Japan`s effort to realise US President Barack Obama`s historic 2016 visit to the city devastated by US bombing seven decades earlier. Asked about his leadership style, Kishida, 64, said last month that bottom-up consensus building is just as important in politics as a top-down approach.

Tokyo: Japan's former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida has won the governing party leadership election and is set to be become the next prime minister of the Asian economic giant. Kishida replaces outgoing party leader Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who is stepping down after serving only one year since taking office last September.

As new leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, Kishida is certain to be elected the next prime minister on Monday in Parliament, where his party and coalition partner control the house.

Kishida beat Taro Kono, the vaccinations minister, in a runoff after moving ahead of two female candidates Sanae Takaichi and Seiko Noda in the first round.