Five Candidates Vie for Leadership in Japan’s LDP Presidential Race | WPN World People News

The interim presidential election of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) enters a critical phase of declarations this week, with candidates gradually revealing their intentions. On September 16, former Minister for Economic Security Takayuki Kobayashi held a press conference to officially announce his candidacy. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi also clearly expressed his intention to run and is expected to unveil his policy platform—dubbed the “Hayashi Plan”—later this week. Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Shinjiro Koizumi is currently preparing his candidacy announcement, while another former Minister for Economic Security, Sanae Takaichi, is scheduled to hold a press conference on the 19th. Including former LDP Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi, who declared his candidacy last week, a total of five candidates are expected to compete for the party’s top post.

Fifty-year-old Kobayashi is focusing his campaign on building a tech-driven nation and implementing tax cuts. At his press conference, he declared that the LDP is facing an existential crisis, warning that “this could be the party’s last presidential election,” and emphasized his strong sense of urgency. He proposed large-scale investments in artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, and the space industry, aiming to restore Japan’s status as a leading technological power.

Kobayashi, currently serving his fifth term as a member of the House of Representatives, is seen as a representative of the younger generation of conservatives. He launched his campaign support team with a ceremony at the National Diet, attended by 20 lawmakers—half the number from last year, but still demonstrating considerable mobilization capability. In terms of policy, he advocates a "flat-rate tax cut" targeting the younger and working generations, and is exploring a new income tax system to strengthen the middle class. He also supports tighter controls on foreign investment, increased defense spending, and opposes overreliance on solar energy from specific countries.

Yoshimasa Hayashi, 64, has held key positions including Foreign Minister and Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. He is currently Chief Cabinet Secretary and is the second-in-command of the former Kishida faction. This marks his third bid for the party presidency. He plans to continue the policies from his previous campaign, aiming to achieve “wage growth that outpaces inflation” and to promote constitutional revision. According to *Sankei Shimbun*, he has asked former Health, Labour and Welfare Minister Norihisa Tamura to serve as his campaign manager, strengthening his election team.

On September 16, Shinjiro Koizumi, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, expressed his intent to run in a Diet interview and is preparing an official announcement. He has invited Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato to serve as his campaign manager. Kato, known for his close ties to former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, is seen as a counterbalance to Koizumi’s liberal image.