Japan's lower house of parliament on Tuesday appointed Sanae Takaichi as the country's first woman prime minister.

Takaichi received 237 votes, topping the majority of the 465-seat chamber, according to a lower house staff member.

She will likely be approved by the less-powerful upper house as well and sworn in as Japan's 104th prime minister in the evening to succeed the incumbent Shigeru Ishiba.

The ultra-conservative Takaichi's rise to prime minister ends a three-month political vacuum and wrangling since the Liberal Democratic Party's disastrous election loss in July.

Ishiba, who lasted only one year in office, resigned with his Cabinet earlier on Tuesday, paving the way for his successor.

The LDP's off-the-cuff alliance with the Osaka-based rightwing Japan Innovation Party, or Ishin no Kai, ensures her premiership because the opposition is not united.

Still, Takaichi's untested alliance is short of a majority in both houses of parliament and they need to court other opposition groups to pass any legislation – a risk that could make her government unstable and short-lived. (Agencies)