The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of Japan has announced the nine candidates who will compete in the party’s leadership election on September 27, set to determine the successor to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Kishida’s three-year tenure has been marred by various scandals, prompting the leadership race.
Among the record number of contenders is Shinjiro Koizumi, 43, a former Environment Minister and the son of ex-Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Koizumi aims to modernize the LDP and push for reforms, including creating a more flexible job market and revising a civil code that currently requires married couples to adopt the same surname—a change backed by the business community.
He has also vowed to strengthen Japan’s alliance with the United States and engage diplomatically with China and North Korea.
Another prominent contender is Shigeru Ishiba, 67, a former Defence Minister. Despite his popularity among the public, Ishiba has struggled to gain widespread support within the party. Running for the leadership for the fifth time, he promises this will be his final attempt. Known for his expertise in security and defense, Ishiba has proposed forming an Asian equivalent to NATO and is a strong advocate for Taiwan’s democratic governance.
Other candidates include Sanae Takaichi, 63, the Economic Security Minister and a nationalist candidate hoping to become Japan’s first female prime minister, along with key figures such as Yoko Kamikawa, 71, a former top diplomat, and Taro Kono, 61, the outspoken Digital Affairs Minister.
The LDP, holding a majority in parliament, guarantees that the winner of this election will become Japan’s next prime minister. The process will involve 369 LDP lawmakers casting votes, alongside an equal number of votes from rank-and-file members. If no candidate secures a majority, a run-off will occur between the top two contenders.
Once the new LDP leader is chosen, Japan’s parliament is expected to convene in early October to formally select the new prime minister, who will then form a new cabinet. The incoming leader may also opt to call a snap general election to seek a broader national mandate.
