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Takaichi wins, with Koizumi falling surprisingly short in the lawmaker votes - he didn't even win all of Hayashi's votes. Probably in part down to lawmakers not wanting to ignore the constituency votes, but also a pretty clear sign of a party running scared of populist challenges from its right.

Unless Takaichi as LDP leader can show a side of herself that's never been apparent in her career to date, this is going to be a disaster. Lots of very glum faces among the senior LDP faces up on stage right now; they no doubt suspect that the turkeys just voted for Christmas.

Lower House election before end of the year? Or will she try to work with Sanseito and other right-wing parties to have some conservative coalition?

i think cooperation with sanseito would doom them. any voters not on board with that level of racism/nationalism will move to to the kokumin minshuto and anyone into that would keep voting for sanseito.