Japan’s governing conservative party has selected Sanae Takaichi as its new leader, positioning the 64-year-old to become Japan’s first female prime minister.

Takaichi is among the most conservative members within the party, aligned with its right wing. A former government minister, TV host, and avid heavy metal drummer, she is one of the best-known figures in Japanese politics, though often a controversial one.

She faces several serious challenges, including grappling with a sluggish economy and households struggling with persistent inflation and stagnant wages.

Another test ahead will be steering Japan’s rocky relationship with the United States and upholding the tariff deal agreed with the Trump administration by the previous government.

If confirmed as prime minister, one of her biggest challenges will be to unite the party after years of instability caused by scandals and internal divisions.

Last month, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, whose term lasted just over a year, announced he would step down following a series of election defeats that left the Liberal Democratic Party’s governing coalition without a majority in both chambers of parliament.

Prof Jeff Kingston, director of Asian Studies at Temple University in Tokyo, told the BBC that Takaichi was unlikely to have "much success at healing the internal party rift".

Takaichi belongs to the "hardline" faction of the LDP, which believes that "the reason the LDP support has imploded is because it lost touch with its right-wing DNA", he added.

"I think she's in a good position to regain the right-wing voters, but at the expense of wider popular appeal, if they go into a national election."

Takaichi has been a long-time admirer of Britain’s first female prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, and now she is closer than ever to fulfilling her Iron Lady ambition.

But many women in Japan do not see her as a symbol of progress.

"She calls herself Japan's Margaret Thatcher. In terms of fiscal discipline, she's anything but Thatcher," Prof Kingston said.

"But like Thatcher, she's not much of a healer. I don't think she's done much to empower women."

Takaichi is a staunch conservative who has long opposed legislation allowing women to keep their maiden names after marriage, arguing that it goes against tradition. She is also against same sex marriage.

A protégé of the late former leader Shinzo Abe, Takaichi has vowed to revive his economic vision known as Abenomics, which focuses on high fiscal spending and cheap borrowing.

A long-time LDP member, she is known for her strong stance on national security and has said she wants to revise Japan’s pacifist constitution.

She is also a regular visitor to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, where Japan’s war dead, including some convicted war criminals, are memorialised.

While she is expected to be confirmed by parliament as prime minister, the process will not be automatic as it was for her predecessors, since the ruling party now lacks a majority in both houses.