With nine candidates, Japan's ruling party faces its most crowded leadership race ever on September 27. There are two women among the candidates for the presidency of the Liberal Democratic Party. Many of the candidates have served as ministers of defense and foreign affairs, as well as other senior government and party positions.
The winner will be sealed as Japan's prime minister when parliament reconvenes in early October.
One million local LDP supporters, representing less than 1% of Japan's population, will say the same thing as the LDP's 368 party lawmakers in the primary vote. But since no candidate is expected to win a majority at this stage, lawmakers' votes will carry more weight in a runoff between the two front-runners.
Who are the main candidates and what are their policies? This selection of stories will help you learn the latest news.
The winner of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's leadership race, the third-longest since 2000, will succeed Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who has been in office for more than 1,000 days. (Photo by Wataru Ito)
Five of the six intra-party factions of the LDP, which played an influential role in the previous presidential elections, decided to disband in the wake of the political finance scandal that was revealed at the end of last year. As factional control weakened, it became easier for candidates to enter the leadership race. The winner will succeed Fumio Kishida and be appointed Japan's 102nd prime minister in the Diet, where the party holds the most seats in both the upper and lower houses. Read more.
Leading the field so far: From left, Shinjiro Koizumi, Shigeru Ishiba and Sanae Takaichi. (Source photos by Uichiro Kasai and Mayumi Tsumita)
The result of the vote could lead to a generational change. Former environment minister Shinjiro Koizumi, 43, is a prominent candidate. In addition to being the son of one of Japan's most internationally recognized prime ministers, Junichiro Koizumi, Koizumi would become the country's youngest prime minister since the 19th century.
Japan may also become its first female prime minister, with two female members of Kishida's cabinet, including economic security minister Sanae Takaichi, 63.
Former LDP Secretary General Shigeru Ishiba, 67, is making his fifth attempt at the top job. He gets a lot of support from local LDP supporters. Read more.
Former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba leads as the public favorite to become Japan's next prime minister in the latest Nikkei/TV Tokyo poll.
Former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba was the top choice to lead the party ahead of Shinjiro Koizumi in the latest opinion poll after nine candidates were confirmed. Hawkish Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi, who sees herself as the successor to former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, ranked third among all pollsters. Read more.
If elected president of the LDP, Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi will be sure to become Japan's first female prime minister. (Photo by Uichiro Kasai)
Sanae Takaichi is the most popular choice among stock experts to become Japan's next leader, according to a monthly poll. Takaichi led the poll with a 29% response, as market participants hoped the lawmaker would pursue economic policies similar to former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's “Abenomics.” Read more.
Former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba has proposed joint management of US military bases in Okinawa Prefecture with Japanese forces, he said at a public forum among all candidates. The security debate comes as China increases military pressure on Taiwan and expands its naval presence in the East and South China Seas. Read more.