Declaring his candidacy for prime minister on Monday, Japan’s vocal and social media-savvy digital transformation minister declared his intention to challenge Fumio Kishida, promising to “help steer the world” in addition to focusing on home issues.
Former minister of foreign affairs Taro Kono, 61, is the third lawmaker to announce their candidacy for the presidency of the ruling party, and therefore, Japan’s future leader, in a crucial vote that will take place next month.
He enters the campaign alongside former defense minister Shigeru Ishiba, 67, and former minister of economic security Takayuki Kobayashi, 49.
“I will run for the presidential election on behalf of the Liberal Democratic Party,” Kono declared at a crowded press conference on Monday.
Touting his experience as foreign affairs chief, he added: “I can help steer the world.”
“Unlike the previous LDP presidential elections, where we had been content to limit our discussions to Japan, this is the first race where we have to talk about the world,” he said, citing the war in Ukraine and a potential crisis around Taiwan.
Kono has a reputation as a maverick because to his theatrics on X, where he speaks candidly to his 2.5 million fans, as well as his sporadic disdain for formalities and red tape.
Additionally, he has been one of the few conservative LDP voices in favor of policies like increasing immigration and legalizing same-sex unions.
Kishida declared earlier this month that he would resign, and surveys suggest that his support rating has fallen as a result of a fundraising kickback scandal. This has sparked a leadership contest.
According to opinion polls, the majority prefers Ishiba to be the next prime minister, with Shinjiro Koizumi, the flamboyant 43-year-old son of former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi, coming in second. Koizumi isn’t yet formally running for office.
Once the public’s favorite, Kono is now ranked fourth in a Yomiuri Shimbun poll, behind outspoken nationalist Sanae Takaichi.
Perennial rival Ishiba declared over the weekend that this would be his final attempt at winning the top post, although it would also be his fifth.
“This will be the culmination of my 38-year career as a politician… I will give it my all,” he said.
Rising star Kobayashi reaffirmed his position as a leader for the new generation when he declared his candidacy last week, stating that the LDP needed to revitalize itself.
