Japanese Communist Party seeks reboot with 1st female leader

TOKYO -- The Japanese Communist Party hopes to shake its image of a staid party out of sync with the times by installing its first woman as chief, but declining membership and a changing geopolitical landscape pose challenges.

Tomoko Tamura, the party's policy chief, was appointed chairperson on the final day of a four-day party congress held in Atami. She replaced Kazuo Shii, who had been the party's face for 23 years. Shii will become the Central Committee chairman.