The recent victory of Japan’s Sanae Takaichi is a boon for the U.S.-Japanese relationship. Takaichi and her Liberal Democratic Party won a mandate in the snap elections. And Washington might have won the opportunity to work with a key ally in deterring China and its global ambitions.

Takaichi’s win is notable. Her LDP gained 120 seats, for a total of 316, more than two-thirds of the lower house. Combined with its partner, Ishin no kai (Japan’s Innovation Party), the LDP coalition now has 352 of 465 seats, a supermajority. The numbers are resounding, and Takaichi’s decision to gamble and call for elections looks to be a masterstroke. Indeed, the LDP’s landslide is the party’s largest in the postwar period.