Takeshita Elected Prime Minister

Veteran politician Noboru Takeshita was elected prime minister today and immediately appointed a Cabinet that is expected to continue trying to ease trade friction, especially with the United States.

Takeshita, who was handpicked last month by his predecessor, Yasuhiro Nakasone, to head the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, won a strong 442 of the 744 votes cast in the Parliament, where the party holds a majority. Takeshita, 63, known for his strength in tackling issues through patient consensus building, became the 46th prime minister since Japan adopted its parliamentary system in 1885.