The Race For Japan’s Next Prime Minister Kicks Off, With Nine Candidates Competing, Including Two Women

Japan is choosing a new prime minister from nine candidates, including two women. The winner might call a quick election after the vote.

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Japan is choosing its next prime minister, and the race began on September 12. Nine people want the job, including the son of a former prime minister and two women who could become Japan’s first female leader. The election is important because the winner will likely become the new leader of Japan.

The race is to lead the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). This party has been in charge of Japan for many years. The person who wins the LDP leadership on September 27 is expected to take over from the current prime minister, Fumio Kishida. 

Prime Minister Kishida has faced many problems, including scandals and rising prices, which have made many people unhappy with him.

One of the most popular candidates is Shinjiro Koizumi. He is 43 years old and used to be the environment minister. He is also famous because his father was a very popular prime minister. 

[Image: At 38, Mr. Koizumi is the third-youngest minister to serve in a Japanese cabinet since World War II. Reuters]

Koizumi enjoys surfing, which makes him relatable to younger voters. Another strong candidate is Shigeru Ishiba, who is 67 years old and has served as Japan’s defense minister.

[Image: Shigeru Ishiba, former Defence Minister and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership candidate, participates in a debate for the LDP leadership election in Tokyo on September 12, 2020. Reuters]

Two women are also running, which is unusual in Japanese politics. One of them is Sanae Takaichi, who is 63 years old and works as the economic security minister. 

[image: Sanae Takaichi stated, "With this plan to strengthen the Japanese economy, I will rebuild it and set it on a path for growth. Getty Images]

She has strong opinions and often visits Tokyo’s Yasukuni war shrine. This could upset countries like China and South Korea if she becomes prime minister.

The other female candidate is Yoko Kamikawa, who is 71 years old and is currently the foreign minister. She doesn’t have as much support within the party, but many see her as a good leader who wants to help younger female politicians.

[image: Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa spoke during an interview with The Yomiuri Shimbun on February 9. Collected]

Another candidate is Taro Kono, who is 61 years old and is the digital affairs minister. He is known for speaking his mind and wanting to change things in the government.

As the race continues, people think the winner might call a quick election right after the party vote. This idea has been discussed a lot in local news. There are more candidates this time because of a big funding scandal that caused Prime Minister Kishida to break up powerful groups within the party.

James Brady, who is the vice president of a company that gives advice to businesses, says the large number of candidates has led to good discussions about what the party should do next. 

Many candidates are promising to spend more money on certain things, while others don’t want to raise taxes.

As Japan watches the race, everyone is waiting to see who will become the next prime minister and how they will lead the country. The outcome will not only decide who the next leader is but also what might happen in Japan’s future.