Japan's LDP leaders officially kick off campaign

Sep 12, 2024 | News On Japan

TOKYO - The race to select the new leader of Japan's main governing Liberal Democratic Party has officially kicked off. Nine people are running, a record high under the current system. The winner is expected to become the country's next prime minister.

The candidates are Economic Security Minister Takaichi Sanae, Former Economic Security Minister Kobayashi Takayuki, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa, Former Environment Minister Koizumi Shinjiro, Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko, Former Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsunobu, Digital Transformation Minister Kono Taro, Former LDP Secretary-General Ishiba Shigeru and current Secretary-General Motegi Toshimitsu. The candidates made their appeals on Thursday.

Takaichi said the first thing that must be done is to transform the LDP into a party the people can truly trust. She added she wants to strengthen the party and create an environment where the LDP can continue to win elections at both the national and local levels.

Kobayashi said he will create a national strategy for 2050 to ensure people can have hopes and dreams. He stressed he will make Japan an independent country that is not affected by activities of other nations.

Hayashi said he has carefully and diligently carried out his duties. He says he decided to run to make best use of those experiences and achievements for Japan, which he loves more than anything else, as well as for his party.

Koizumi said if he becomes prime minister, within one year he would carry out three major reforms: political reform, regulatory reform and expanding people's choices. He also expressed his intention to dissolve the Lower House as early as possible.

Kamikawa said if she becomes prime minister, she will create a new Japan alongside the public, without shying away from challenges. She says she's determined to strengthen the economy and expand opportunities.

Kato said now is the time to double people's incomes, accelerate reforms and create a new Japan together. He stressed he's determined to realize these outcomes, and that is his mission.

Kono emphasized no country can maintain peace or regional stability on its own. He stressed now is the time to share this understanding with the public and communicate Japan's role and responsibilities to the world.

Ishiba said he will create a country that can protect the public with natural disasters and security in mind. He added he will do his best to thoroughly explain his decisions to resolve people's distrust in politics.

Motegi said he wants to draw out the capabilities of each citizen and the attractiveness of each region of the country. He added he wants to work with the people to make Japan a country where everyone can live 100 years with a sense of security and hope for the future.

The race is set to decide the successor to Prime Minister Kishida Fumio. Kishida announced last month he will not be running for LDP leadership again.

Vote counting will take place September 27.

Japan Faces Netherlands Without Liverpool Midfielder Wataru Endo

When Japan kicks off its World Cup campaign against the Netherlands at 5:00 a.m. Japan time on June 15 at Dallas Stadium in Texas, the Samurai Blue will do so without one of their most influential players. Liverpool midfielder and former captain Wataru Endo has been ruled out through injury, prompting coach Hajime Moriyasu to hand the captain's armband to Ajax defender Ko Itakura while relying on Leeds United midfielder Ao Tanaka and Crystal Palace playmaker Daichi Kamada to help fill the void left in central midfield.

Fire Torches Naritasan Shokoji Temple in Hokkaido

A fire broke out at a Buddhist temple in Obihiro, Hokkaido, on June 13th, sending flames soaring from the building and causing temporary alarm in a nearby residential neighborhood before being largely extinguished about two hours later.

Japan Moves To Tackle Potty Parity

The Japanese government on June 12th released new guidelines calling for women’s toilets to have at least as many fixtures as men’s toilets in public facilities, seeking to address the persistent problem of long queues at women’s restrooms in places such as train stations and event venues.

Captain Endo Withdraws From Japan Squad

Japan captain Wataru Endo has withdrawn from the national team's World Cup squad due to injury and announced his retirement from international soccer, dealing a major blow ahead of Japan's Group F opener against the Netherlands on June 14th (June 15th Japan time), as the team continued preparations near Nashville, Tennessee, on June 11th.

Veteran Photographer Documents Changing Bear Behavior

As bear sightings continue at an unusually high pace across Akita Prefecture, a veteran wildlife photographer who has spent nearly 30 years observing and photographing Asian black bears says the animals are appearing more frequently, moving closer to human settlements, and increasingly adapting their behavior to survive.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Politics NEWS

Japan Faces Growing Threat as North Korea's Nuclear Arsenal Expands

Japan faces growing uncertainty over North Korea's expanding nuclear arsenal after Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded his first visit to Pyongyang in seven years without mentioning denuclearization, raising concerns that the long-standing international goal of eliminating North Korea's nuclear weapons may be steadily losing support among the region's major powers.

Imperial Family Reform Plan Advances as Parliament Seeks to Preserve Royal Numbers

Japan's parliament is expected to formally adopt a proposal on June 10th aimed at maintaining a stable number of Imperial Family members, endorsing measures that would allow female royals to retain their status after marriage and permit the adoption of male-line descendants from former imperial branches, while leaving the current line of succession unchanged.

Komeito May Join Centrist Reform Alliance

Komeito has begun considering a plan under which all of its Upper House lawmakers would join the Centrist Reform Alliance, according to sources familiar with the discussions.

Nationalism on the rise: Anti-foreign rhetoric gains ground in Japan?

For several months, Japan has been moving in a more nationalist and conservative direction. The shift has been fuelled by economic challenges at home and growing regional tensions with China.

Controversy Erupts Over Prime Minister Takaichi’s Alleged Smear Video

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's administration is facing mounting scrutiny over allegations that members of her campaign were involved in distributing online videos that disparaged rival candidates during the February House of Representatives election, with opposition parties intensifying their questioning in the Diet and demanding further clarification.

Japan Calls for Next Generation Hunters; Bear Sightings Exceed 50,000

The Japanese government approved its 2026 Environment White Paper at a Cabinet meeting on June 5th, warning that a record-high 50,000-plus bear sightings recorded nationwide during fiscal 2025 have become a serious threat to public safety while also highlighting growing concerns over Japan's aging hunting population and the need to train a new generation of hunters.

Prime Minister Takaichi Says 'I Won't Become a Paid Member'

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi faced intense questioning in the House of Representatives Budget Committee on June 4th over allegations surrounding defamatory campaign videos, telling lawmakers she had not verified newly released audio published by Weekly Bunshun because she had no intention of becoming a paid subscriber to the magazine's online service.

Japan Weighs 1% Food Tax as Speedy Alternative to Zero

The Japanese government has presented estimates showing how long it would take to implement a reduction in Japan's consumption tax on food products, indicating that cutting the rate to either zero percent or 1 percent would require significant preparation time.

< 2 3 4 5 >