Takako Doi secured another unchallenged term as Social Democratic Party leader on Friday, officials of the small opposition party said.
Doi, who filed her candidacy the same day, secured her third two-year term as SDP leader since former Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama relinquished his position to her in December 1996.
She was also leader of the SDP's predecessor, the Japan Socialist Party. The party has only 19 seats in the House of Representatives and 8 in the House of Councilors.
Doi's previous term was to have expired in February. But the SDP decided to move the election forward following its big losses in the House of Councilors election in July, according to the officials.
They said full discussions on party reform and personnel matters will begin before an SDP convention slated for Oct. 27 and Oct. 28.