Japan’s LDP Leadership Race Kicks Off With Five Contenders

Japan’s ruling party leadership race formally kicked off Monday under close market scrutiny, with the outcome likely to determine who will lead the nation following Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s decision to step down.

The five candidates will face off in the Liberal Democratic Party’s Oct. 4 presidential election, and the winner will face the urgent task of rebranding the party to stop a drift of supporters to rival populist parties that has stripped the LDP of its majorities in both chambers of parliament in recent elections.