Having been effectively hand-picked by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to be his successor, Shinzo Abe has some very large shoes to fill. Mr Koizumi steps down as one of the longest-serving and most popular leaders of Japan in living memory after instituting changes across the political, economic and social systems of the country.
Some may have been unpopular, others have raised eyebrows, but Mr Koizumi has managed to emerge smelling of roses.
Mr Koizumi and Mr Abe may have been close political allies for several years, but the incoming prime minister is also his own man. He expressed concern, for example, over the ostracism of 'old guard' members of the Liberal Democratic Party who opposed privatisation of Japan's postal system and is perceived as being more hawkish on defence.
So are the reforms that Mr Koizumi leaves as his legacy safe, or will they be diluted or stiffened by the new occupant of the prime minister's official residence?
'For the next few months, while he finds his feet in the job, I expect Mr Abe to follow policies that are very similar to those of the previous administration,' said Pema Gyalpo, a professor of law at Yokohama University.
'But that may change after the upper house election in July of next year, when he will feel he has greater justification for running his own show.
'Of course, his methods are likely to be very different.