Former Japanese Defense Minister Shigeru Ishida was elected by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party Friday as its leader and, de facto, the next prime minister.

Japan’s ruling party is electing its next leader and likely the country’s next Prime Minister, with two women in the running.

The person chosen to lead Japan’s governing party, and become prime minister next week, is a veteran politician with deep policy experience, a taste for curry and anime — and big challenges ahead of h