Japan's largest labor organization elected Tsuyoshi Takagi, head of a federation of textile, chemical and other industrial workers' unions, as its fifth president Thursday.
Takagi, 62, head of UI Zensen Domei, defeated Momoyo Kamo, 56, chairwoman of the Japan Community Union Federation, in the leadership election. Takagi will now serve as head of the 6.6 million-member Japanese Trade Union Confederation (Rengo) for two years.
Takagi said in a speech after the election: "We have mounting issues. I hope to do my best."
Takagi will replace Kiyoshi Sasamori, who has served in the post since 2001.
Rengo's leadership election took place on the second day of its annual convention.
Of the 486 representatives at the convention, 472 cast votes -- with 323 votes for Takagi and 107 for Kamo, in addition to 42 blank and void ballots, Rengo officials said.
Takagi, a graduate of the University of Tokyo, joined the chemical firm Asahi Kasei Corp. in 1967.
He became general secretary of the labor union Zensen Domei in 1988 and its head in 1996.
In 1982, Takagi also served as a first secretary at the Japanese Embassy in Thailand.