Fumio Kishida is set to become the next prime minister of Japan after he was elected leader of the country’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Wednesday. The 64-year-old, who is Japan’s former foreign minister, beat the country’s Minister for Administrative and Regulatory Reform and Vaccination Rollout, Taro Kono, securing 257 votes to 170. Two female contenders, Sanae Takaichi, 60, and Seiko Noda, 61, dropped out after the first round. Kono was widely regarded as the favorite to win the LDP leadership, particularly given that he consistently topped public polling and boasts a large following on social media. Kishida’s win in the leadership almost assures he will be elected as prime minister of Japan on Monday in Parliament, where the LDP has majority in the lower house. In an acceptance speech, Kishida vowed to lead a “transformed party” in a general election due by Nov. 28 and continue to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. “The LDP leadership election is over. Let …