Thread: A new PM for Japan

Japan LDP Ishiba to announce leadership candidacy soon

Shigeru Ishiba, former secretary-general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, said Sunday that he will announce possibly this week his candidacy in the party's presidential election in September.
"I'm very close" to securing recommendations from 20 LDP lawmakers, he told reporters, expressing confidence that he will meet the key conditions for entering the race. This will be Ishiba's fifth attempt at the party's top post.

"Since some people have newly expressed their willingness to run, it's necessary to confirm (exactly who endorses me). I want to do that in the first half of this week," said Ishiba.

He is considering announcing his candidacy in Tottori Prefecture, his political home turf.

Earlier on Sunday, Ishiba, 67, said on television that increasing real wages and establishing a "disaster prevention ministry" as key policies he would implement if he becomes prime minister by winning the LDP election.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida last week said that he will not seek reelection as LDP president and will step down after the party picks his successor.

The presidential election is shaping up to be a crowded race with more than 10 names already mentioned, including former economic security minister Takayuki Kobayashi, 49.

"I'm grateful that my name has been mentioned," he told reporters in Yachiyo, Chiba Prefecture, on Sunday. He is expected to hold a news conference Monday to announce his candidacy.

Digital transformation minister Taro Kono, 61, and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, 63, have also decided to enter the race.

Other LDP members eager to run include former Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato, 68, Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, 71, industry minister Ken Saito, 65, economic security minister Sanae Takaichi, 63, former internal affairs minister Seiko Noda, 63, and LDP Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi, 68.

Some lawmakers are also backing former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, 43.

Japan LDP to Hold Leadership Election on Sept. 27

Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party decided Tuesday to hold its upcoming leadership election on Sept. 27.

The LDP’s presidential election administrative committee, headed by Ichiro Aisawa, decided to start on Sept. 12 the official campaign period for the race to succeed current LDP President and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

The official campaign period was set at 15 days, instead of the more common 12 days, in order to display to the public that the party is undergoing reform following a slush funds scandal.

There had been a proposal to begin the campaign period on Sept. 5 and hold the vote on Sept. 20, but the committee decided to schedule the election for after Kishida returns from a mulled visit to the United States for this year’s general debate of the U.N. General Assembly that will begin Sept. 24.

Former economic security minister Takayuki Kobayashi, 49, has already declared his bid, while former LDP Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba, 67, is seen announcing his decision to throw his hat in the ring as early as Thursday and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, 63, within this week at the earliest.

Digital transformation minister Taro Kono, 61, is preparing to launch a bid Monday.

Other names being floated as possible candidates include former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, 43, Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, 71, industry minister Ken Saito, 65, economic security minister Sanae Takaichi, 63, former Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato, 68, former internal affairs minister Seiko Noda, 63, and LDP Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi, 68.

Shinjiro Koizumi, Japan’s Former Environment Minister, to Run for LDP Presidency; 43-Year-Old Son of Ex-PM Aims to Bring ‘Change’

Former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has decided to run in the Liberal Democratic Party’s presidential election, to be held on Sep. 27, sources report. He is still considering when to officially announce his candidacy. Several LDP members are expected to announce their candidacies in the coming weeks, with Sept. 12 set as the start of the 15-day official campaigning period to decide who will succeed Prime Minister Fumio Kishida as the LDP president.

Koizumi, 43, is said to have told people close to him of his decision by saying: “I have to seriously contest this election in order to change the party. It’s not a matter of simply putting a new face on it.” He has reportedly started to ask fellow LDP Diet members for their support.

Koizumi has been elected five times to the House of Representatives from the Kanagawa 11th electoral district. As the son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, the younger Koizumi is well known and is consistently ranked high in Yomiuri Shimbun’s nationwide opinion polls as a good candidate for the next Prime Minister.

According to Koizumi’s circle, he is on track to secure the necessary 20 nominations from LDP Diet members for his candidacy and has cross-factional support as well as support from members unaffiliated with factions.

Former economic security minister Takayuki Kobayashi, 49, has already announced his candidacy. It is rare for an LDP presidential election to have two candidates in their 40s, meaning that generational change, in addition to party reform, is likely to be an issue in the race.

Digital minister Taro Kono, 61, is likely to announce on Monday that he is also running. Former LDP Secretary General Shigeru Ishiba, 67, who had been making arrangements to announce his own candidacy as early as Thursday, will make that announcement Saturday in his native Tottori Prefecture.

Ex-main opposition CDPJ chief Edano eyes comeback in leadership race

A former leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, Yukio Edano, says he will run in his party's leadership election next month, in a fresh bid to salvage the struggling main opposition party.

Edano, 60, is the first to announce his candidacy for the Sept. 23 race, which comes only days before the country's ruling party selects a new president. He is expected to compete with incumbent Kenta Izumi and possibly Yoshihiko Noda, who was prime minister when the CDPJ's predecessor was in power.

The leadership election comes as the current leader Izumi's three-year term ends in September.

"The CDPJ needs to evolve into a party for the people so we can gain support in the next House of Representatives election," Edano said at a press conference in Tokyo on Wednesday.

Some opposition lawmakers are already wary of the possibility that the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, under its next president who is almost certain to become prime minister, might dissolve the powerful lower house for a snap election sooner rather than later. It must be held before the end of October 2025.

The CDPJ faces the challenge of becoming a viable alternative to the ruling bloc, having largely failed thus to capitalize on increasing public discontent with the LDP, which has been hit by scandals related to political funds and its close links to the controversial Unification Church.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is stepping down in September without seeking reelection as LDP chief.

The next CDPJ leader will also need to reassess the party's strategy for joining forces with the Japanese Communist Party, after their cross-party cooperation framework floundered in the recent Tokyo gubernatorial election.

While much attention has been placed on the shape of cooperation among the opposition bloc, the CDPJ has failed to present a clear vision of what it aims to achieve, Edano said.

"I will rework (the cooperative relationship)," he said, adding that doing so is necessary to challenge the LDP head-on and boost its appeal to people frustrated with the ruling party.

Edano served as chief Cabinet secretary when the 2011 earthquake and tsunami devastated northeastern Japan, triggering the worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl.

Campaigning for the race will begin on Sept. 7, around the same time as the LDP kicks off its 15-day presidential race, the longest race in its history and one many believe was arranged so as to steal the spotlight.

Potential contender Noda, 67, who has become a CDPJ advisor since his stint as premier over a decade ago, will likely decide whether to run in the coming days, in response to calls from relatively young fellow members who have high hopes for his return. Former acting CDPJ leader Kenji Eda, 68, is also a possibility.

Some CDPJ members say the party needs a new, younger face if it wants to project a new image.

Political Showdown Ahead For Japan's Next Prime Minister

Japan's political arena is heating up as the leadership race for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) begins to take shape. With incumbent Prime Minister Fumio Kishida set to step down by the end of September, potential candidates are starting to announce their intentions to run, making this upcoming election one to watch.

Taro Kono, Japan's Digital Minister, is poised to kick off the race, having officially declared his candidacy for the LDP leadership election planned for late next month. His office confirmed this on Friday, marking his entry three years after he was bested by Kishida. Kono, known for his maverick style and savvy social media presence, has held various significant Cabinet positions, including Foreign and Defense Minister. His track record has made him one of the most recognizable faces within the party.

Interestingly, Kono won't be alone. Ken Saito, the Industry Minister, has also expressed his desire to join the race, signifying the potential chaos and competitiveness of this leadership election. There’s already significant buzz about the candidates, with Kono and Saito expected to join several others, including former defense minister Shigeru Ishiba and former environment minister Shinjiro Koizumi.

Koizumi, the son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, is also preparing to announce his bid at the end of next week. There's considerable support for him among the younger faction of the party, alongside backing from influential former leaders like Yoshihide Suga, especially as the party navigates shifting political landscapes away from the traditional factionalism.

While Koizumi has not formally stepped forward yet, the political discourse indicates strong expectations surrounding his candidacy. According to sources, his public appeal, combined with his family legacy, positions him as one of the frontrunners for the role of the next prime minister, assuming he wins the LDP election.

On the ground, campaigning will officially commence on September 12, coinciding with the expected kickoff of the main opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan's leadership race, aimed at solidifying its own position as credible opposition to the LDP.

Currently, Takayuki Kobayashi, the former economic security minister, has already made his candidacy official, highlighting the growing roster of contenders. Ishiba, who has made several attempts for the premiership, is also anticipated to jump back in the fray after being favored by public opinion polls to secure future leadership.

With Kishida's decision to step down under scrutiny amid public discontent sparked by various scandals, Ishiba has come out strong as one of the leading choices among lawmakers. A recent poll indicated Ishiba's popularity among LDP lawmakers, making him a significant player to watch, along with Kono and Koizumi.

Adding complexity to the race, other notable names are also considering runs. Sanae Takaichi, the economic security minister, has indicated she's gearing up to announce her candidacy next week, alongside Katsunobu Kato, the former health minister, who aims to secure support from at least twenty party lawmakers to qualify for the race. If this happens, it would be quite unprecedented as both Kato and Toshimitsu Motegi, the LDP’s Secretary General, are part of the same faction which typically doesn’t dominate leadership contests.

Interestingly, recent developments reveal many factions within the LDP are facing mistrust, partly due to revelations related to financial scandals tied to political funding. This atmosphere has forced many old-school factions to disband as they recalibrate their strategies to align with public sentiment and demands for transparency.

The upcoming leadership election will not only determine the next LDP president but also the next prime minister of Japan, considering the ruling coalition's dominance across both chambers of the National Diet. With the political stakes high, candidates will have to present their vision and policies effectively to win over party lawmakers and the broader membership, as both groups hold equal voting power.

This unique election situation emphasizes the importance of more extensive campaign strategies. The LDP election committee has introduced a change this year, increasing the campaign period from the usual twelve to fifteen days, allowing candidates more time to engage with voters, especially since public trust is at stake.

Considering the urgency and the high-profile nature of the election, September is shaping up to be monumental for Japan's political future with significant consequences for its governance. Voters are eagerly anticipating dynamic debates and campaign strategies as candidates vie for leadership amid calls for reform and new visions for Japan.

Japan's Foreign Minister Kamikawa to run in LDP leadership race

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said Sunday that she has received support from over 20 lawmakers to run in the Sept. 27 presidential election of the ruling party to choose a successor to outgoing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

Kamikawa, 71, has been regarded as one of the frontrunners to become Japan's first female prime minister since her appointment as the nation's top diplomat in September 2023. She was a member of the Liberal Democratic Party's faction formerly led by Kishida.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, who was also a member of the Kishida faction, is also eager to run, sources close to him said, adding that the top government spokesman is considering formally announcing his bid as early as Tuesday.

The presidential race will take place after Kishida's sudden announcement that he will not seek reelection as LDP leader, taking responsibility for a slush funds scandal unveiled late last year that has significantly eroded public trust in politics.

While the political funds scandal has driven support rates down for the ruling party, expectations are growing that the new LDP leader may dissolve the House of Representatives for a snap election shortly after becoming prime minister, possibly in October.

To run in the presidential election, a candidate must be recommended by at least 20 LDP lawmakers.

No one gives a flying fuck, you fucking weirdo.

Japan is as interesting as the far side of the fucking moon to most folk. The only interesting thing ever likely to be of interest emanating from Nipland is if it gets hit by a North Korean rocket.

You fucking loon.

Ishiba Shigeru announces candidacy for main ruling LDP president

Former Secretary-General of the main governing Liberal Democratic Party Ishiba Shigeru has declared his candidacy for party president.

He addressed his supporters at a shrine in the town of Yazu in Tottori Prefecture, western Japan, on Saturday. This is the fifth time for Ishiba to run in a party presidential election.

Ishiba is the second person to announce his candidacy in the race to choose a successor to Prime Minister Kishida Fumio after former Economic Security Minister Kobayashi Takayuki.

Ishiba said he will seek support with all his strength and heart. He said he views this race as his last and the culmination of 38 years of his political career. He said he will do so by drawing on his original aspirations.

Ishiba said when he was a child, a summer festival was held at the shrine that was bustling with people. He said Japan was not as affluent as now, but children and seniors alike were smiling. He said he is determined to bring back a bustling Japan where everyone can live with smiles.

Several lawmakers are expected to announce their candidacy next week.

Digital Transformation Minister Kono Taro is set to hold a news conference on Monday and former Environment Minister Koizumi Shinjiro on Friday.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa is planning to declare his candidacy as early as next week, taking the situation of an approaching typhoon into consideration.

The party's current secretary-general, Motegi Toshimitsu, has decided to run, taking requests from members from the former Motegi faction into consideration. He is now looking into when to make an announcement.

Economic Security Minister Takaichi Sanae is seeking the right timing to announce her candidacy. A lawmaker close to her says the prospect of getting the required recommendations from 20 party lawmakers is now in sight.

Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Saito Ken says he has decided to take aim at the leadership race.

Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko, former Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsunobu and Noda Seiko, who ran in the last race, have all been working to secure endorsement from 20 people.

Upper House member Aoyama Shigeharu has expressed his hope to run. He said he wants to explain that there is a different option in the leadership race.

The number of candidates in an LDP presidential election has never been more than five since 1972. That was when the requirement of endorsements from party lawmakers was set. Observers say a record number of people may run in the upcoming race.

Former Japan PM Noda announces leadership bid

Former Japanese Prime Minister Noda Yoshihiko says he plans to run for president of the largest opposition Constitutional Democratic Party.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Noda said, "I aim to become prime minister once again. I would like to express my determination here."

He pledges to restore the middle class, something he says he was not able to achieve when he was prime minister.

He said, "Through the Abe administration, the Suga administration and the current Kishida administration, the gap has been widening. I would like to work on economic and fiscal policies that address the fact that many people are falling out of the middle class."

Noda is the second person to officially announce their candidacy after the party's former president, Edano Yukio.

Noda used to lead the now defunct Democratic Party of Japan and served as prime minister in 2011 and 2012.

The CDP's presidential campaign period is set to begin September 7 followed by the election on the 23.

And the main governing Liberal Democratic Party plans to hold its presidential election a few days later.

Kono Taro makes bid to lead Japan's ruling party

Japan's Digital Transformation Minister Kono Taro has announced that he will run in the leadership election of the main governing Liberal Democratic Party.

Kono made the announcement on Monday, 12 days after Prime Minister Kishida Fumio said he will not seek another term as LDP leader. The new LDP president is almost certain to become the next prime minister.

Kono told reporters that the Kishida Cabinet has made great achievements both in domestic politics and diplomacy since its inauguration about 1,000 days ago. He said he wants to succeed Kishida and move Japan forward.

He also said Japan needs to clarify its responsibility and roles and implement them.

He added that leadership contenders need to discuss how to reshape the international community, as the winner will be the next prime minister of Japan.

Kono, who is 61, is serving his ninth term as a Lower House lawmaker.

He is a member of LDP Vice President Aso Taro's faction and now serves as digital transformation minister.

Since winning his first term in 1996, Kono has openly declared that becoming prime minister is his goal.

He made his first bid for the LDP leadership in 2009, when the party was in the opposition, at the age of 46.

After the party returned to power, Kono got his first Cabinet post in 2015 as minister in charge of administrative reforms under Prime Minister Abe Shinzo.

He also served as both foreign and defense minister. He visited 123 countries and regions during his roughly two-year stint as foreign minister.

In the Cabinet of Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide, Kono served as regulatory reform minister and was named minister in charge of the coronavirus vaccine rollout during the pandemic.

When he made his second bid for the top LDP post three years ago, Kono won broad support from rank-and-file party members and finished a close second, only a vote behind Kishida in the first round.

Record field, tight race expected in Japan governing party contest

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party may see a close race for its new leader, with a likely record number of candidates and the waning influence of factions making rank-and-file votes significant in effectively choosing the next prime minister.

Around 10 lawmakers or more could run in the Sept. 27 LDP presidential election, the most under the party's current selection system introduced in 1971. The five-contender 2008 and 2012 races were the biggest under present rules.

The wider field comes after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's announcement in August that he will not seek reelection as head of the LDP to take responsibility for a party slush funds scandal that has dogged his Cabinet's approval ratings.

The outgoing prime minister has encouraged anyone willing to succeed him to run, opening up the contest. Moves to dissolve LDP factions in the fallout of the funding scandal mean the groups also hold a reduced sway over candidate selection and lawmaker votes.

Prospective candidates must secure backing from 20 of their peers to run before campaigning officially begins on Sept. 12.

The vote is likely to go to a run-off between the top two candidates, with no candidate winning a majority in the first round in which 367 LDP parliamentarians will vote while another 367 votes are allotted to rank-and-file members.

In a run-off, the lawmakers hold the same number of votes, while the membership share is reduced to one for each of the LDP's 47 prefectural chapters.

Three lawmakers have announced candidacies as of Sunday. Former Economic Security Minister Takayuki Kobayashi, 49, was first out of the blocks, while ex-Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba, 67, has announced his fifth run and Digital Minister Taro Kono, 61, has formalized his candidacy.

Expected to confirm soon are Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, 63, LDP Secretary General Toshimitsu Motegi, 68, former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, 43, and Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi, 63.

Among the others widely seen as seeking support for a run are former Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato, 68, Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, 71, Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Ken Saito, 65, and former Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Seiko Noda, 63.

Since the LDP and the Komeito party, its coalition partner, hold a majority in both chambers of the Diet, the winner of the LDP presidential race is almost certain to be elected prime minister at a Diet session to be convened shortly after the contest.

The LDP Leadership Race: The Early Birds

On September 27, Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will choose a new president. This race is not only about party, but also about country. The winner will become Japan’s next prime minister. The LDP is lagging in the polls. Only twice since its formation in 1955 have Japanese voters ousted the conservatives. With the opposition still not offering any serious alternative, the LDP is unlikely to lose the election. But this election is all about the next general election and how to avoid weakening the legislative foundation that has allowed them to govern since Abe Shinzo led them back into power in 2012.

So, who is running to lead this “dream team”? Candidates must formally declare their candidacy by September 12. Coming into this week, three early bird contenders had formally announced. The most recent poll, conducted by the Asahi Shimbun on August 25, gives a sense of their popularity. Expect at least four more candidates to come forward this week. Some expect ten or more candidates could join the race, the largest ever pool of aspirants for president of the LDP and, ultimately, for prime minister.

Kobayashi Takayuki

This forty-nine-year-old newcomer was the first out of the gate, announcing his candidacy on August 19. He is from Chiba prefecture, a suburb of Tokyo, and is serving his fourth term in the House of Representatives. In 2021, Prime Minister Kishida gave him a Cabinet-level position to draft new economic security promotion legislation, which was adopted into law by the Diet in May 2022.

Kobayashi’s self-chosen nickname is Koba-hawk, referencing his aspiration for soaring high and demonstrating strength. But he also has a penchant for defense policy. Since announcing, he has had an open discussion forum on YouTube, called Koba-talk. In the late August Asahi Shimbun poll, Kobayashi received 5 percent of support from LDP fans and an equal percentage from all respondents.

Ishiba Shigeru

Sixty-seven-year-old Ishiba has been elected twelve times from a largely rural constituency in Tottori prefecture. He has served as Japan’s Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries and its Minister of Defense. Ishiba has also served in senior LDP positions, including a stint as Secretary-General of the party and as head of its Policy Research Council. This is his fifth run at the party presidency, and in announcing his bid, he says it will be his last.

In government, Ishiba was known for his attention to detail on policy issues. Out of government, he has become a frequent guest on television talk shows, making the discussion of public policy accessible to a broad audience. Now that he is in the race, he is a frequent guest on the talk show circuit. In the August 26 Asahi Shimbun poll, Ishiba drew 23 percent of LDP supporters and 21 percent of all respondents.

Kono Taro

On August 26, Kono Taro became the third to announce he was in the 2024 LDP leadership race. This will be his third try. Kono has long advocated for improving Japan’s governance and has held significant domestic reform positions in the Koizumi, Abe, Suga, and Kishida Cabinets.

Currently, Kono is Japan’s Minister for Digital Affairs, responsible for finally bringing the government into the digital era. As Minister for Administrative Reform under former Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide, Kono was tasked with the emergency management of the pandemic vaccination program, which was also fraught with controversy.

Kono also has a keen interest in Japan’s foreign policy and chaired the Foreign Affairs Committee in the House of Representatives. He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defense under Prime Minister Abe Shinzo. Since 1996, he has represented Kanagawa prefecture, home to a major naval port for U.S. and Japanese forces; he has a detailed understanding of the implementation of the US-Japan Security Treaty and its Status of Forces Agreement.

Kono Taro maintains an active social media presence, especially on X. The late August Asahi Shimbun poll shows him with 8 percent support from LDP members and 6 percent from all respondents.

Very informative

Japan Leadership Race Expands With Koizumi Pledging Election

Japan’s chief government spokesman said he would pursue “people-friendly politics” if he becomes national leader, increasing the field of candidates for this month’s Liberal Democratic Party leadership election to four.

Yoshimasa Hayashi, who trails the election frontrunners in public popularity ratings, on Tuesday declared his intention to stand in the Sept. 27 poll. The leader of the LDP is all but assured of becoming prime minister because of the party’s dominance in parliament.

At least two more lawmakers are expected to formally announce their intention to take part in the election later this week. Ultimately the group of candidates is expected to be the largest in recent years by the time official campaigning begins on Sept. 12.

Hayashi’s policy views are generally in line with those of current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who surprised many by saying in August he wouldn’t run in the election, ending his term after nearly three years as premier. At his press conference, Hayashi said he supported fiscal spending that’s appropriate for economic growth and the use of nuclear power to ensure adequate power and combat emissions.

Here’s a look at some of the contenders to replace Kishida.

In the link

Japan main opposition party begins leadership race, eyes gov't change

Official campaigning for the leadership election of Japan's largest opposition party began Saturday, with contenders debating how to work with other parties in a general election expected later in the year and bring about a change of government.

The lineup of four candidates vying to lead the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan in the Sept. 23 vote runs the full spectrum of experience, ranging from former Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, 67, former and incumbent party leaders Yukio Edano, 60, and Kenta Izumi, 50, and Harumi Yoshida, 52, a first-term House of Representatives lawmaker.

With a possible general election on the horizon, Noda, who led the country from 2011 to 2012 under the now-defunct Democratic Party of Japan, said it marks a "once-in-a-lifetime chance" for political change. "I intend to fight like this is the night before a new administration," he told a debate between the candidates in Tokyo.

The CDPJ race comes as the ruling Liberal Democratic Party prepares to stage its Sept. 27 leadership election, which is set to have at least seven candidates and decide Japan's next prime minister. Its winner is expected to call a general election soon after.

Yoshida joined the race Saturday morning as its only female candidate after finally gaining support from the requisite 20 lawmakers, amid concern a fresh face is needed to prevent public interest from waning compared with the LDP contest.

In the debate, all four candidates said the election constituted a rare chance for the party to rise to power.

But they offered differing visions on achieving such a victory, with limited prospects the CDPJ can defeat the LDP without cooperating with other opposition groups. Even so, they lost the 2021 lower house vote after aligning with the Japanese Communist Party.

Noda called for the party to be able to pivot toward courting disillusioned moderate voters, who he said would "provide the first chance for a change of government."

In order to capture as many seats as possible, he said the CDPJ must be able to "hold dialogue with any opposition party."

Edano, who resigned over the 2021 loss, said it was likely to be difficult for the CDPJ to align with the JCP or the Japan Innovation Party due to policy differences.

Izumi ruled out tie-ups with either party, citing differences over defense policy.

Despite a host of scandals in the LDP, headed by outgoing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, an August opinion poll by Kyodo News found just 12.3 percent of respondents supported the CDPJ versus the LDP's 36.7 percent.

Asked how they would change rules on political spending amid eroding trust in politics following the slush funds scandal that has rocked the LDP, Izumi said political activities' funds distributed to lawmakers should be abolished, and called for limits on campaign spending in constituencies.

"There's no way the CDPJ can fight in areas where a rich candidate can throw huge amounts of money into a local area. If we want a country that enables changes in government under free and fair election rules, we must amend the rules," he said.

Yoshida suggested politics could take its cues from the private sector. "All their receipts should be public, and audits should be total, covering incomes and expenditures. This is standard practice in private firms," she said.

Amid rising living costs in Japan, candidates were also split over the consumption tax, with Yoshida saying she would consider exempting food products from such tax, while Noda, who introduced legislation to raise the tax while premier that was later carried out by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, was cautious about cutting it.

The CDPJ leader will be selected during an extraordinary party meeting on Sept. 23, when its lawmakers and general election candidates will cast their ballots, while local assembly and rank-and-file members will vote by mail or online in advance.

Should no candidate obtain an outright majority, the top two will enter a runoff to select a winner.

New Japan PM set to be picked Oct. 1 when extra Diet session begins

he successor to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will likely be selected on Oct. 1, when an extraordinary Diet session is expected to be convened, sources familiar with the plan said Friday.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party is set to choose its next president on Sept. 27. With both houses of parliament controlled by the LDP and its junior coalition partner Komeito, it is a formality the winner will be the next prime minister.

The government and the ruling parties are now arranging the schedule, which will be finalized by Kishida's Cabinet in late September.

If the next premier decides to dissolve the powerful House of Representatives soon after he or she is elected, the earliest date for a snap election will be Oct. 27. Another possible date is Nov. 10, if the new leader wants to take their time, according to the sources.

While the current Cabinet will decide when the extraordinary parliamentary session begins, it will be the next leader who hammers out the details, including the timing of a policy speech and the length of the forthcoming session.

Kishida is stepping down at the end of his three-year term in late September, after a slush funds scandal hurt voter confidence in the ruling party. A record seven or more candidates are expected to run in the LDP leadership election.

In 2021, Kishida was elected prime minister on Sept. 29. He dissolved the lower house on Oct. 14 of that year for a general election on Oct. 31. Campaigning for the race kicked off on Oct. 19.

Lawmakers are on guard against the possibility that the next prime minister will follow the previous example, and choose to hold a general election at an early date before his or her honeymoon period ends.

If history is any guide, campaigning may begin on Oct. 15 for voting on Oct. 27. This will coincide with an upper house by-election in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan.

Another option is for campaigning to start on Oct. 29 and voting to be held on Nov. 10. This will allow the new leader to attend a series of meetings related to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Laos around Oct. 10.

The prevailing view is that Nov. 3 will be ruled out due to a three-day holiday in Japan.

Japan PM hopeful Ishiba says complete exit from deflation crucial

Shigeru Ishiba, the former Japanese defense minister running in the ruling party's leadership race, said on Tuesday that a complete exit from deflation is a crucially important task for the country.

"I don't think private consumption has recovered strongly yet despite some signs of improvement," Ishiba said at a press conference where he laid out his policy pledges for the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership race.

"I promise to achieve sustainable growth in real wages to realise a full exit from deflation, so that people can spend without worrying about the future," he added.

The LDP's parliamentary control means its leader becomes the prime minister of Japan.

Ishiba's comments are meant to counter speculation that he is more focused on fiscal discipline than economic growth, a ruling party source close to Ishiba's thinking said.

Japan, saddled with the industrial world's heaviest debt at more than twice the size of its economy, has pledged to deliver a primary budget surplus by the next fiscal year.

But calls for more spending are expected to grow as the LDP leadership race is likely to be followed by a snap parliament election.

Another candidate, former economic security minister Takayuki Kobayashi, reiterated in a separate press conference on Tuesday that economic growth should be prioritised over finance.

"I believe we should aim to raise tax revenue by creating a strong economy, which would in turn result in a sustainable finance and social welfare system," Kobayashi said.

He said that he would compile a stimulus package by the end of this year to ease the pain of those affected by inflation, including small- and medium-sized companies, if he were to win the party leadership race.

Record Nine Candidates In Race To Become Japan PM: Ruling Party

The race to become Japan's next prime minister kicked off on Thursday with a record nine candidates, the ruling party said, including the son of a former premier and a nationalist vying to be the country's first woman leader.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) named the candidates for its September 27 leadership contest as: chief cabinet secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba, foreign minister Yoko Kamikawa, former health minister Katsunobu Kato, former economic security minister Takayuki Kobayashi, former environment minister Shinjiro Koizumi, digital minister Taro Kono, LDP secretary general Toshimitsu Motegi and economic security Minister Sanae Takaichi.

Japan PM hopefuls eye ties with like-minded nations amid China rise

Candidates in Japan's ruling party leadership election on Saturday underlined the importance of bolstering ties with like-minded partners in Asia and beyond to cope with the rise of an assertive China and provocative North Korea.

While the security alliance with the United States remains key for Japan, the contenders showed different visions on the shape of future multilateral cooperation, ranging from the creation of an Asian-style NATO collective security arrangement to a more loose network of countries that share values and objectives.

Former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba, a public favorite to become the next Japanese leader, said NATO-like collective security is necessary in Asia after seeing Russia invade Ukraine, a non-NATO country.

"My idea is to start with countries facing a similar (security) environment. It doesn't mean that China will be excluded," Ishiba said in a joint debate with eight other candidates running in the leadership election of the Liberal Democratic Party.

Still, he acknowledged that various issues need to be resolved before such a framework can be established, including what is possible under Japan's war-renouncing Constitution and which countries would participate.

In NATO, an attack on one member is considered an attack on all members.

The next LDP president is certain to become prime minister, given both houses of parliament are controlled by the LDP and its junior coalition partner, the Komeito party.

LDP Secretary General Toshimitsu Motegi and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, both with the experience of serving as foreign minister, took a cautious stance.

"The question is whether something that is good in theory is possible," Motegi said, adding that it would be "realistic" to strengthen the current architecture with the Japan-U.S. alliance at its core and explore cooperation with other Asian nations for the region's peace and stability.

Shared concerns about China's assertive moves, particularly at sea and in the air, have accelerated the push for a "free and open" Indo-Pacific, which includes the East and South China seas. Russia's war on Ukraine has set off alarm bells among Japanese politicians amid heightened tensions between China and Taiwan.

Digital Minister Taro Kono, who held the posts of foreign and defense ministers in the past, emphasized that Japan must work with other democracies, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and emerging powers in the so-called Global South.

"Bilateral relations between Japan and China are, of course, important, but having a joint front and strategy with like-minded nations and democracies will become powerful in dealing with issues like China's overproduction, chips and others," Kono said.

Speaking alongside the other eight candidates, four being former or current top Japanese diplomats, Shinjiro Koizumi, a rising LDP star and another public favorite to become the next leader, said he will pursue direct talks with his Chinese and North Korean counterparts if he becomes premier.

"At the end of the day, how top leaders can talk matters. Without this, no major breakthroughs or positive developments will be possible," Koizumi said at the event hosted by the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo.

He also suggested that any Japanese prime minister who fails to strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance cannot succeed in achieving amicable relations with other nations.

Takaichi tops Kyodo poll of LDP supporters as most fit to be Japan PM

Former economic security minister Sanae Takaichi is viewed by 27.7 percent of Liberal Democratic Party supporters as most suitable to be Japan's next prime minister, a Kyodo News poll showed Monday, two weeks ahead of the party's presidential election.

Takaichi is running in the Sept 27 LDP race to choose the successor of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who announced in August that he will not seek reelection as leader of the ruling party in the wake of a slush funds scandal that has shaken support for the party since late last year.

Among the other eight candidates, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba received 23.7 percent support and former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi 19.1 percent, according to the two-day telephone survey conducted from Sunday, indicating no contender is likely to win an outright majority in the first round of the election.

Out of LDP supporters eligible to vote in the presidential election, Koizumi came out on top with 27.9 percent, followed by Takaichi with 21.4 percent and Ishiba with 19.7 percent, the poll said, around 10 days before the new leader is selected.

Whoever wins the race will become prime minister as the LDP-led coalition and its junior coalition partner control both chambers of parliament, but the crowded field, with a record nine candidates, has made it difficult to predict who will secure victory.

In the first round, each of the LDP's 367 Diet members will cast a vote, and another 367 votes will be determined based on the preferences of rank-and-file members who hold Japanese nationality and have paid membership fees the past two years.

The deadline for voting by rank-and-file members is scheduled for Sept 26. If a runoff takes place, the 367 parliament members and each of the LDP's 47 prefectural chapters will cast votes.

The campaign kicked off last Thursday and the candidates have all pledged to rebrand the LDP.

The latest poll shows that 66.1 percent of LDP supporters believe the ruling party's lawmakers who received slush funds from their intraparty factions need to explain in parliament how and why they were able to accumulate such money.

Since late last year, the LDP has faced intense scrutiny after some of its factions, including the largest one formerly led by the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, failed to report portions of their income from fundraising parties and created slush funds.

In June, Japan's parliament enacted a revised law proposed by the LDP to reform political funding regulations, but the opposition camp said it was ineffective and contained many loopholes in addressing the country's long-standing issue of politics and money.

On the policy front, meanwhile, the nine candidates are divided over whether to allow married couples in Japan to use different surnames, a point of contention for the LDP for the past 30 years as it places importance on what it sees as traditional family values.

In the Kyodo News poll, 41.4 percent of LDP supporters were in favor of the introduction of the system of optional separate surnames for married couples, while 43.2 percent were opposed.

Asked what issues the next premier is expected to prioritize, 36.2 percent of LDP supporters cited measures to boost the economy and curb price hikes, while 24.5 percent mentioned a focus on foreign and security policies.

The survey called randomly selected individuals aged 18 and older, who are eligible voters across the nation. The responses of 1,048 people who said their political party of choice is the LDP were tallied.

https://japantoday.com/category/poli...to-be-Japan-PM

Who will Japan’s next PM be? A policy wonk, ultra-conservative or surfer making the climate fight ‘sexy’

With just 10 days to go before Japan’s governing party elects a new leader – who will automatically become prime minister – the contest is still too close to call.

Among the frontrunners are Shigeru Ishiba, a model aircraft enthusiast and security policy wonk about to embark on his “final battle”, and Shinjiro Koizumi, the youthful, photogenic son of a former prime minister who once insisted the fight against climate change could be “sexy” and “fun”. The race has been complicated by a new poll in which ruling Liberal Democratic party (LDP) supporters named Sanae Takaichi, the ultra-conservative economic security minister, as their preferred choice.

The current prime minister, Fumio Kishida, blew open the race to lead the LDP – a conservative political powerhouse that has governed almost unchallenged for seven decades – with his surprise decision not to run in the leadership race on 27 September.

Citing the need for new blood after damaging political and financial scandals, and stubbornly low personal approval ratings, Kishida warned that his successor must lead a “new LDP”.

Under Japan’s parliamentary system, the party’s new president, who will be chosen from a record nine candidates, will automatically become prime minister when he – or she – is approved by the LDP-dominated Diet.

On Monday, a poll by the Kyodo news agency showed that 63-year-old Takaichi – who played drums in a rock band as a teenager – was viewed by 27.7% of LDP supporters as most suitable to be Japan’s next prime minister, although doubts remain over her ability to garner votes among her lawmaker colleagues.

The poll, in which Ishiba received 23.7% support and Koizumi 19.1%, indicates that the leadership vote will have to go to a decisive second round.

Koizumi has struggled to convert his popularity with voters into a credible bid to become leader of the world’s fourth-biggest economy. Recent polls suggest this attempt, too, could end in failure at the hands of Ishiba, 67, who is attempting to become LDP head at the fifth – and, he says, final – time of asking.

An earlier poll by Nikkei financial newspaper and broadcaster TV Tokyo put support for Ishiba at 26%, followed by the 43-year-old Koizumi at 20%, with Takaichi, at 16%.

Each of the LDP’s 367 lawmakers will cast a vote in the first round, while an equal number of votes will be distributed based on the preferences of just over 1 million grassroots members who must cast their votes by 26 September.

In the unlikely event that one candidate secures a simple majority in the first round, he or she will become party leader. But in the absence of a runaway favourite, the two candidates with the most votes will compete in a second round, with each LDP lawmaker getting one vote and membership’s share dropping to 47 votes, one for each of Japan’s prefectures.

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On topic: Who will win the race to become Japan's next prime minister?

With nine candidates, Japan's ruling party holds its most crowded leadership race ever on Sept. 27. Among those running for Liberal Democratic Party president are two women. Many of the candidates have served as defense and foreign ministers as well as in other senior government and party positions.

The winner will be rubber-stamped as Japanese prime minister when parliament reconvenes in early October.

A million local LDP supporters, representing less than 1% of the Japanese population, will have the same say as the LDP's 368 party legislators in the initial round of voting. But as no candidate is expected to secure a majority at that stage, the vote of the legislators will then gain much more weight in a runoff between the two frontrunners.

Who are the top contenders, and what are their policies? This selection of stories will help you catch up on the latest.

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LDP leadership race heats up with Ishiba, Takaichi and Koizumi leading polls

The latest opinion poll results show that Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party leadership election is largely a three-way race.

Shigeru Ishiba, former secretary-general of the LDP, is the first choice of LDP supporters who were asked to name their preferred candidate to lead the party in a recent Nikkei poll. The 67-year-old Ishiba is a champion of regional revitalization. Sanae Takaichi, the minister in charge of economic security, emerged as the second favorite, while former environment minister Shinjiro Koizumi was the third choice.

Nine candidates are vying to succeed Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Friday's LDP presidential election. The others in the fray are Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, Digital Transformation Minister Taro Kono, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, former economic security minister Takayuki Kobayashi, LDP Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi and former chief cabinet secretary Katsunobu Kato.

The winner of the most crowded, complicated and uncertain leadership election the LDP has seen in ages is assured of the premiership by virtue of the LDP-led ruling bloc's majority in parliament.

The contenders have radically different takes on everything from fiscal spending, monetary easing and higher taxes to separate surnames for married couples, use of nuclear power and international challenges.

A monthly survey by Japan's financial market information provider QUICK projected Takaichi, 63, as the front-runner as Japanese market participants are hopeful the hawkish lawmaker would pursue economic policies similar to "Abenomics" — a three-pronged approach launched by then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2013, combining fiscal expansion, monetary easing and structural reform.

Takaichi, known as Abe's protege, has pledged to seek economic growth with "strategic fiscal stimulus" aimed at creating jobs and increasing incomes.

"In fact, the majority of Takaichi's nominees are pro-Abe politicians, and Abe's supporters include many academics who have promoted Abenomics," Yuri Kono, professor of political science at Hosei University, said.

Takaichi also topped the Kyodo News Agency's poll of LDP supporters as most fit to be Japan's next leader.

If elected, Takaichi would make history as Japan's first female prime minister.

Koizumi, 43, has the support of fellow lawmakers in the race, according to surveys by Japanese newspapers Sankei Shimbun and Mainichi Shimbun, raising the possibility of him becoming Japan's youngest prime minister.

Candidates will compete for a total of 736 votes — 368 from LDP lawmakers and another 368 from party members and registered party supporters. If a candidate does not win a majority of the total votes, the top two finishers will head for a runoff, in which 415 votes will be up for grabs, consisting of the 368 party lawmakers' votes and one vote from each of the 47 prefectures.

Due to the unusually large number of bids, no candidate will secure a majority in the first round of voting, and there will be a runoff for the top two finishers, according to Yomiuri Shimbun's recent surveys of LDP members, supporters and lawmakers.

In the projected tally, Takaichi and Ishiba were tied with 123 votes, closely followed by Koizumi with 105 votes, according to the Yomiuri polls.

Chen Zilei, director of the Center of Japanese Economic Studies at Shanghai University of International Business and Economics, said, "With the sheer number of contenders throwing their hats in the ring, it is a fluid situation."

The LDP has proposed electing a new prime minister at the start of an extraordinary Diet session on Oct 1.

A general election must be called within the next 14 months. Analysts said there is a chance that the newly elected prime minister might ride on the novelty element and dissolve the House of Representatives for a snap election as early as October. Koizumi has said he will seek a public mandate by calling a snap election "as soon as possible" if elected.

Yao Zeyu, assistant researcher in the Department for Asia-Pacific Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, said, "It is understandable that there are concerns that Japan may return to revolving-door leadership."

A long-serving premiership in Japan has always been followed by a period of political turbulence. Between 2006 when Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi stepped down and 2012 when Shinzo Abe took the helm, six men claimed the premiership for an average of less than a year. Abe's second stint as prime minister for eight years was followed by Yoshihide Suga who was in office for only a year.

The main task of the LDP's new leader will be to shore up the party's popularity before the general election so that the party can continue to hold power. The LDP still leads the competition, but support has fallen due to the slush fund scandal.

"Without trust in politics, policy implementation is uncertain. If the LDP is to be renewed, it cannot evade the money and politics issue," an editorial in Mainichi Shimbun said.

Japan PM candidate Koizumi talks of change, but rivals could alter US diplomacy

In the race to become Japan's next leader, young contender Shinjiro Koizumi has positioned himself as a change candidate, but his veteran rivals Shigeru Ishiba and Sanae Takaichi are the ones pushing policies that could rock the boat diplomatically.

The Liberal Democratic Party, which has ruled Japan for almost all of the post-war era, will on Friday pick a new leader to replace Fumio Kishida as prime minister.

That comes at a pivotal moment for Tokyo as it seeks to deepen ties with long-time ally Washington and solidify a perennially testy relationship with South Korea, in an effort to present a united front against an increasingly assertive China.

Koizumi, 43, the U.S.-educated heir to a prominent LDP dynasty, is promising to usher in a generational shift in political leadership, but one that remains at ease with a U.S. relationship that shapes Japan's foreign policy.

Koizumi is in a closely fought race with two experienced candidates who appear more willing to push back against Washington - former defence minister Ishiba, 67, who is fighting his fifth and he says his last leadership election; and Takaichi, 63, the nation's economic security minister.

"Among the current top three candidates, Koizumi would probably be the most favourable if the U.S. had a say," said Jeffrey Hornung, Japan Lead for the RAND National Security Research Division. "He is young, and he doesn't have the governing experience and so the easiest path is to move forward with what's already working."

That means a snap parliamentary election will happen November 14.

Koizumi demonstrated his close relations with Washington in July when he spent a day surfing with U.S. Ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel.

While analysts say Koizumi would seek continuity, Ishiba could seek to strike a more independent foreign policy from Washington while Takaichi could revive historical animosity with Seoul.

Some recent opinion polls show them ahead of their younger rival among the LDP's party members who will decide Friday's election, one of the most unpredictable in decades because of the waning influence of powerful factions within the party and a record nine candidates.

Whoever wins, the U.S. election in November could have a bigger impact on Japanese-American ties, especially if any second term for Donald Trump revives pressure on allies to pay more for U.S. protection or subjects them to trade tariffs.

A spokesperson for the State Department said the U.S. was looking forward to working with the next Japanese leader.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has faced political backlash for pursuing security cooperation with Japan, told Reuters he is confident that Kishida's successor "will agree on continuing to further develop our bilateral relations."

A spokesperson for China's foreign ministry said Beijing was willing to work with a prime minister that would promote a "stable China-Japan relationship."

reuters.com