A record nine candidates, including a nationalist and the son of a former premier, entered the race to become Japan’s next prime minister on Thursday, hoping to become the nation’s first female leader.
The winner of September 27’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership race will take over as prime minister from the unpopular Fumio Kishida, whose three-year tenure was marred by scandals while voters battled inflation.
Since the conservative LDP has controlled parliament for many years and has ruled virtually continuously, the victor is virtually certain to become prime minister.
As of now, Shinjiro Koizumi, 43, a surfer and former environment minister best known for being the son of a well-liked former prime minister, and Shigeru Ishiba, 67, a seasoned former defense minister, are leading the surveys.
Two well-known women, who are still uncommon in Japanese politics, are also contenders.
Sanae Takaichi, the 63-year-old hard-right minister of economic security, frequently visits the Yasukuni war shrine in Tokyo, which, should she win, will probably enrage China and South Korea.
Additionally, current foreign minister Yoko Kamikawa, 71, is seen as a skillful leader who hopes to guide upcoming female lawmakers, despite having little support inside the party.
Taro Kono, 61, a vocal reformist and minister of digital affairs, has also entered the race.
