ANKARA

Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is set to hold its leadership election on Friday to select a successor to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. 

Kishida, whose three-year term ends this month, has already confirmed that he will not seek reelection, paving the way for a new party leader.

The incumbent premier, who has been in office since October 2021, will step down amid a political funds scandal and controversy over the Unification Church’s connections to ruling lawmakers. Despite his efforts to reform the party, including disbanding factions, Kishida’s approval rating has plummeted to as low as 20%.

A record nine candidates, including two women, are in the race to succeed Kishida as prime minister as both houses of parliament are controlled by the LDP and its coalition partner, the Komeito party.

A runoff vote will be held the same day between the top two candidates if no candidate wins an outright majority of the 734 votes -- 367 from LDP lawmakers and 367 from rank-and-file members.

In the runoff, lawmakers will again cast 367 votes, while the rank-and-file will contribute 47 votes, one allocated to each of Japan's 47 prefectures. 

Who is who in the race

As the contenders revealed their visions for the world’s fourth largest economy, party renewal is a common pledge, aside from efforts to mitigate an escalating cost-of-living crisis and cope with security threats in the face of China and North Korea.

Former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Shinjiro Koizumi, a son of Junichiro Koizumi, a reformer and one of the most popular premiers in the postwar era, are touted as favorites for the LDP leadership.

Ishiba, 67, a recognized policy expert in security, agriculture and regional revitalization, is contesting for the fifth and last time to become the party chief, describing it as the "culmination" of his 38-year political career.

"In the face of public distrust in politics, I will do my all as president to reach a point where our party has fully explained ourselves and the Japanese people are convinced," Ishiba said at a televised joint appearance with the other candidates.

The 43-year-old Koizumi, a rising star in the LDP, is nevertheless seen by some as inexperienced compared to Ishiba. But others see his potential to rise to power, promising to push ahead with three reforms in a year.

Vowing to change an "old-fashioned LDP" and accelerate reforms to make the job market more flexible, Koizumi says that if elected, he would hold snap elections to seek the public’s mandate.

Kamikawa, 71, is one of the two female candidates. She together with Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi is from a now-defunct faction of relatively moderate lawmakers that has produced five prime ministers, including Kishida.

The outspoken Digital Minister Taro Kono, 61, was among the first to throw his hat in the ring, vowing to restore the party’s image.

A political maverick and social media-savvy lawmaker, he was previously defeated by Kishida in a runoff in 2021.

The former foreign and defense minister last week said the LDP candidates should discuss "how the world should be, not just Japan," referring to the intensity of the security situation due to "dictatorships" like China and Russia.

Another familiar face in the fray is Kishida's right-hand man, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, who is making his second bid to clinch the coveted office.

Hayashi, 63, who describes himself as "the man to turn to" when in trouble, is an expert in diplomacy, education and agriculture.

The contestants also include several conservative lawmakers who shared the political vision of slain Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Abe was killed after being shot in the chest and neck during a campaign speech in the city of Nara in July 2022.

Pledging to make Japan "stronger and richer," Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi, 63, who touts her affinity for Abe, is running for the second time.

The conservative vote may face a potential split as former economic security minister and a fourth-term lawmaker, Takayuki Kobayashi, 49, and former health minister Katsunobu Kato, 68, a close aide of Abe, have joined the race. The two are making their bid for the first time.

"Where there is a will, there is a way. There are no hurdles that cannot be crossed if we have a strong conviction and join forces," Kobayashi said, adding he is determined to lead the country.

Last but not least, LDP Secretary General Toshimitsu Motegi, 68, is also seen as another potential candidate, enjoying a good support base after distancing himself from a key government tax plan.

The No. 2 in the ruling party and a former foreign minister, Motegi said that if he is elected, he would not go for raising taxes to finance part of a planned increase in the country’s defense spending.