Shinjiro Koizumi
Japan's Leadership Race: 5 Candidates Vie to Become Next Prime Minister as LDP Faces Political Challenges
Oct 03, 2025 02:48 pm CST
Japan's Liberal Democratic Party is selecting a new leader who will likely become the next Prime Minister, with three frontrunners emerging: Sanae Takaichi who could become Japan's first female leader, Shinjiro Koizumi, son of a former premier, and veteran moderate Yoshimasa Hayashi. The winner faces immediate challenges including inflation, potential meetings with US President Trump, and the necessity to form alliances with opposition parties after recent electoral setbacks cost the ruling coalition its parliamentary majority.
Japan's Historic Political Crossroads: Potential First Woman PM or Youngest Modern Leader
Oct 03, 2025 08:21 am CST
Japan approaches a pivotal political moment as Saturday's Liberal Democratic Party leadership vote could deliver either the nation's first female prime minister in Sanae Takaichi or its youngest modern-era leader in Shinjiro Koizumi. The election comes as the ruling party faces significant challenges, including electoral defeats and an economy requiring revitalization, with the winner needing to navigate complex domestic policies and international relations, particularly with the United States.
Japan's Political Crossroads: Why the Liberal Democratic Party's Decades-Long Dominance is Crumbling
Oct 02, 2025 02:59 pm CST
Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party faces an existential crisis ahead of its October 4 leadership election as rural support erodes, economic challenges mount, and populist rivals gain ground. With the party now operating as a minority government for the first time in decades, the next leader must navigate political fragmentation while addressing voter frustrations over rising costs, agricultural policy, and immigration—potentially reshaping Japan's domestic and international trajectory.