Factbox: Candidates Competing for Japan’s Next Prime Minister? By Reuters

By Tim Kelly

TOKYO – Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party has presented the nine candidates competing in the upcoming leadership election scheduled for September 27, aimed at finding a successor to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

Here are the leading candidates based on recent public opinion polls:

SHIGERU ISHIBA, 67
The former defense minister is making what he claims will be his final attempt to lead a party that has dominated Japanese politics for much of the last 70 years. Ishiba is currently the most favored candidate, with 28% of respondents in a recent survey supporting him as Kishida’s successor.

Ishiba is distinct among the contenders for advocating a transition from nuclear power to renewable energy, such as geothermal sources, and supports measures to permit female emperors, which some lawmakers within his party oppose. His economic strategy focuses on increasing wages to combat rising prices and potentially exempting certain goods from Japan’s 10% sales tax to assist lower-income individuals. While he endorses a gradual increase in interest rates by the Bank of Japan, he has expressed uncertainty regarding the timing of any new hikes. He has also proposed the formation of a disaster management agency to improve disaster preparedness and aims to enhance conditions for military personnel to ensure Japan maintains adequate defense capabilities. Interestingly, Ishiba is part of a rare Christian minority in Japan, known for his hobby of building model ships and planes.

SHINJIRO KOIZUMI, 43
As the youngest candidate, Koizumi is the son of a former prime minister and represents a longstanding political lineage in Japan. He positions himself as a reformer who can restore public confidence in a party facing multiple scandals. Should he win, he would become Japan’s youngest prime minister in 80 years.

Koizumi is particularly appealing to younger voters and women, promising to initiate a general election that might coincide with the U.S. presidential vote in November. He has vowed to advance Kishida’s policies aimed at fostering economic growth that adapts to technological advancements, including artificial intelligence. An alumni of Columbia University, Koizumi has proposed deregulating Japan’s taxi market to include ride-sharing and offers financial support for pensioners and low-income families. He has also indicated support for higher wages at small and medium-sized enterprises while facilitating easier layoffs for companies. Additionally, he advocates for enabling women to retain their maiden names and female emperors, as well as for revising Japan’s war-renouncing constitution. A surfing enthusiast, Koizumi is married to a French-Japanese television personality, and his brother is a well-known actor in Japan.

SANAE TAKAICHI, 63
Takaichi represents the conservative faction within the LDP and currently serves as Japan’s economic security minister. As the leading female candidate in the election, she previously ran against Kishida in 2021. Known for her conservative positions, Takaichi supports revising the pacifist constitution and frequently visits the Yasukuni war shrine—a location that elicits criticism from some neighboring Asian countries for its association with Japan’s militaristic past. She opposes the idea of women keeping their maiden names, arguing it would undermine traditional values. Takaichi previously stirred controversy by suggesting that the government could revoke broadcasting licenses of media outlets perceived as politically biased. She has stated that her priorities would include economic growth to bolster Japan’s global standing and strategic spending to enhance employment and consumer sentiment.

TARO KONO, 61
Kono, who previously served as digital minister, has received support from the LDP’s rank-and-file members. He was a strong candidate during the last leadership election but was ultimately defeated by Kishida. Currently, Kono lags in opinion polls but aims to leverage his connections, having served as foreign and defense minister, to strengthen ties with Washington regardless of the U.S. presidential election outcome.

Kono emphasizes reforming labor markets to improve working conditions and wages for part-time employees, as well as retraining opportunities for those seeking higher-paying jobs. He has gained attention in his campaign by suggesting Japan should consider deploying nuclear-powered submarines to protect crucial maritime routes.

OTHER CANDIDATES
Additional candidates in the race include Toshimitsu Motegi, 68, the LDP’s secretary-general who has previously held positions as foreign and trade minister; Yoko Kamikawa, 71, currently serving as foreign minister; and Takayuki Kobayashi, 49, a former economic security minister. Also in contention are Katsunobu Kato, 68, a former health and labor minister and Chief Cabinet Secretary, and Yoshimasa Hayashi, 63, who currently holds the position of Chief Cabinet Secretary and has also served as foreign and defense minister.