Potential Candidates for Japan's Prime Minister

Following Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's announcement of his resignation on August 14, over a dozen contenders from Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will compete for the premiership later this month.

author: Economician

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2 minutes

category:politic

Who are the favorites in the race?

◾ Shinjiro Koizumi:

Former Japanese Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi is emerging as the most popular choice to replace Kishida, according to a TV Tokyo survey last week. The 43-year-old is set to formally announce his candidacy on September 6. Koizumi, the son of former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, would be the party's youngest candidate. He graduated from Columbia University and worked at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. Known for his regular visits to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine and his support for Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential win, Koizumi is expected to maintain the ruling party's policies of sanctions against Russia and support for Ukraine if elected.

◾ Shigeru Ishiba:

Former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba is also a strong contender, as indicated by local media surveys. In July, he led with 21.1% support. Ishiba announced his bid for the premiership on August 24. He advocates for an Asian-Pacific NATO and an enhancement of Japan's defense forces. A proponent of "deterring" Russia, Ishiba supports the Kyiv regime and is committed to bolstering Japan’s defense capabilities.

◾ Taro Kono:

Current Digital Minister Taro Kono declared his candidacy on August 26. Kono, who served as Foreign Minister in the Abe administration, highlighted his family’s historical involvement in Japanese-Soviet and Japanese-Russian relations. However, since the onset of the Ukraine conflict, Kono has fully supported anti-Russia sanctions as a means to "protect Japan."