Shigeru Ishiba has secured victory in the leadership election of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and is poised to become the next prime minister. The 67-year-old former defense minister triumphed in a closely fought race on Friday, defeating 63-year-old Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi in a run-off after none of the nine candidates achieved a majority in the initial round of voting earlier in the day.