1. The Japanese Diet has elected the country’s next prime minister. Takaichi Sanae won the vote on Tuesday. It marks the first time in history that a woman will lead the country. She leads the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and will be launching a new coalition government with the Japan Innovation Party. Takaichi will take office after the Emperor appoints her Tuesday evening. Once that’s complete, she is expected to hold a news conference, which will be her first as prime minister.
2. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 stock index continues its bullish run on expectations for the launch of a new coalition government. It set another intraday high in early Tuesday trading, nearing the 50,000 line. The Nikkei 225 gained more than 700 points, or 1.5 percent, at one stage from Monday’s close, which was an all-time high.
3. US President Donald Trump has officially announced a series of visits to Asia later this month. In Japan, he is scheduled to meet the new prime minister, who is set to be elected on Tuesday. After attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, meeting in Malaysia, he is expected to stop in Japan on Monday for about three days. In addition to meeting with Japan’s new leader, he plans to give a speech to US service members at a US naval base in Yokosuka, near Tokyo.