Ishii to be installed as Komeito party's first new chief in 15 years

LDP's pet has a new leader

Ishii, a lower house member, previously served as land minister and has been viewed as one of the top candidates to lead the party, which has been backed by the lay-Buddhist organization Soka Gakkai.

Whoa! What happened to the separation of church and state?

Komeito and Soka Gakkai have been separated since 1970.