A month after becoming Japan’s 100th prime minister, Fumio Kishida has another reason to celebrate.

Defying expectations, his governing coalition has secured a comfortable preponderance of seats in the Lower House of parliament, with his Liberal Democratic Party now enjoying an absolute majority and control over committees. The question now is how Kishida will use this impressive result, and what his leadership will mean for Japan.

Despite my long involvement with former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government as an economic adviser, I do not recall having any personal conversation with Kishida. But we have come across each other in government meetings and he always greeted me with a genuine smile and gesture. This points to a social and political aptitude that will serve him well as prime minister.