Candidates gearing up for LDP leadership

Sep 15, 2021 | News On Japan

Sep 15, 2021 (NHK) - An election to choose the next leader of Japan's ruling party is getting candidates worked up. The term of current Liberal Democratic Party chief and Prime Minister, Suga Yoshihide, ends this month.

The vote will effectively determine Japan's next prime minister as Suga has decided he will not run.

The campaign period officially kicks off this Friday.

The candidates are former LDP policy chief Kishida Fumio, Regulatory Reform Minister Kono Taro and Former Internal Affairs Minister Takaichi Sanae.

LDP Executive Acting Secretary-General Noda Seiko is also considering a run. She's seeking the backing of 20 party members -- the minimum required to enter the race.

Former LDP Secretary-General Ishiba Shigeru had been considering his candidacy. Ishiba has run for party leader 4 times in the past.

However, Ishiba met with Kono on Monday, and Kono asked him to help unite the party if he wins the LDP's top spot.

It now appears Ishiba will not run, and will instead back Kono.

On Monday the candidates mentioned national security issues after North Korea announced it had successfully test-fired a new long-range cruise missile.

Kishida said he would consider upgrading the country's missile defense capabilities, including the capacity to attack enemy bases.

Kisihda said, "Regarding the capability to attack enemy bases, I would first like to resolve the balance between the Constitution and preemptive attacks."

Kono said the debate over a "capacity to attack enemy bases" is in the past. He said what should be discussed is the improvement of missile interception capabilities and deterrence.

Kono said, "We will enter an era where we discuss how to enhance deterrence within the Japan-US alliance."

Takaichi said Japan should possess precision guided missiles. She added she will consider legislation to enable cyber-attacks that could neutralize enemy bases.

Takaichi said, "We have to think about realistic ways to react if there's a clear sign of a missile launch."

Election campaigning will officially kick off on Friday, with the new leader to be decided on the 29th of this month.

Players to Watch When Japan Faces the Netherlands

Japan's World Cup campaign begins on June 14 when the Samurai Blue face the Netherlands at Dallas Stadium in Texas, a clash that will showcase some of the game's most talented players and pit two ambitious teams against one another in a crucial Group F opener. While Japan arrives without injured winger Kaoru Mitoma, one of its most recognizable stars, the squad still boasts a wealth of talent drawn from Europe's top leagues.

El Nino Returns, But Japan Faces Another Hot Summer

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) announced that an El Niño phenomenon is believed to have developed this spring, warning that Japan is likely to experience above-average temperatures nationwide this summer despite the climate pattern's traditional association with cooler summers.

Narita Airport Advances Compulsory Land Acquisition for Runway

Narita International Airport Corporation is expected to announce next month that it will apply to the national government for project certification as part of the process to enable compulsory land acquisition for the construction of a new runway at Narita Airport, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Fire Destroys Historic Arima Inari Shrine

A fire broke out at Arima Inari Shrine near the Arima Onsen hot spring resort area in Kobe on the night of June 9th, destroying multiple buildings and leaving an elderly Shinto priest and his wife with minor injuries.

Japan National Team Holds First Training Session in Nashville

Japan's national soccer team arrived in Nashville, Tennessee, on June 8th from Monterrey, Mexico, where it had been conducting a pre-World Cup training camp, and held its first practice session at its base camp for the FIFA World Cup in North America.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Fire Destroys Historic Arima Inari Shrine

Japan Cycling Association Head Arrested Over Alleged 30 Million Yen Fraud

Two men, including the head of the Japan Cycling Association, have been arrested by the Metropolitan Police Department on suspicion of defrauding two men in Kagoshima Prefecture out of 30 million yen by falsely promising a massive return on a purported patent-related investment.

Another Bear Feared Roaming Utsunomiya

A bear that had been repeatedly spotted in commercial and residential areas of Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, was captured in a residential neighborhood at around 3:30 p.m. on June 9th after authorities used a tranquilizer gun, but the city remains on alert because police say they cannot rule out the possibility that another bear may still be roaming the area.

Self-Proclaimed 'Messenger of God' Among Seven Arrested Over Teen's Confinement

Nara Prefectural Police have arrested seven people, including a 46-year-old Yokohama man who described himself as a "messenger of God," on suspicion of unlawfully confining a teenage boy entrusted to their care by his parents, allegedly threatening him, confiscating his belongings, and forcing him to sleep naked.

Knives Found in Eye and Abdomen of Dead Man in Kobe

A man believed to be in his 50s or 60s was found dead with knives lodged in his left eye and abdomen inside a container at a company property in Kobe's Suma Ward on June 8th, prompting police to investigate the possibility of a criminal case.

Missing American Student Found Dead After Week-Long Search in Kyoto

The family of James "Weston" Higginbotham, a 20-year-old Auburn University student who disappeared during a family vacation in Japan, announced on June 7th that he has been found dead after a volunteer search-and-rescue team located his body in a mountainous area outside Kyoto, bringing a week-long multinational search to a tragic end.

Unlicensed Peruvian Man Conducts Risky Medical Procedure During Delivery

A clinic director and a former Peruvian staff member have been referred to prosecutors after the man allegedly performed medical procedures without a license, including an external cephalic version—a procedure used to manually turn a baby into the correct position before birth—at an obstetrics and gynecology clinic in Fukuoka City, raising concerns about patient safety and oversight in maternity care.

Video Shows Old Lady Chasing 14-Year-Old Girl After Cash Grab

A 14-year-old junior high school girl was arrested on suspicion of robbery resulting in injury after allegedly spraying a woman in her 60s in the face and stealing her wallet during a robbery attempt in Kasukabe, Saitama Prefecture.

< 2 3 4 5 >