Regular – The Three Candidates to Become Japan’s Next Prime Minister

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1. Ishiba Shigeru, Kishida Fumio, and Suga Yoshihide are competing to become the next leader of the Liberal Democratic Party and succeed Abe Shinzō as prime minister of Japan.

2. The winner of the Liberal Democratic Party leadership vote on September 14 will become Japan’s next prime minister. Read on for profiles of the three candidates

Ishiba Shigeru
Recent positions LDP secretary-general (September 2012–September 2014); Minister for regional revitalization (September 2014–August 2016)
Birthday February 4, 1957
Age 63
Place of birth Yazu, Tottori Prefecture
Education Keiō University (law)
Career before entering national politics Mitsui Bank
Constituency Tottori 1
Number of times elected 11
Other important experience Minister of defense; Minister of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries; Chair of LDP Policy Research Council
Other notes Performed creditably in the September 2018 leadership contest, winning 254 votes compared with Abe Shinzō’s 553. Won 45% of rank-and-file party member votes.
Kishida Fumio
Recent positions Foreign minister (December 2012–August 2017); Chair of LDP Policy Research Council (August 2017–present)
Birthday July 29, 1957
Age 63
Place of birth Shibuya, Tokyo
Education Waseda University (law)
Career before entering national politics Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan
Constituency Hiroshima 1
Number of times elected 9
Other important experience Minister for special missions; Minister for consumer affairs
Other notes Initially expressed an intention to run in the September 2018 leadership contest, but withdrew to support Abe.
Suga Yoshihide
Recent positions Chief cabinet secretary (December 2012–present)
Birthday December 6, 1948
Age 71
Place of birth Yuzawa, Akita Prefecture
Education Hōsei University (law)
Career before entering national politics Private-sector work; Secretary to LDP lawmaker Okonogi Hikosaburō; Yokohama City Council
Constituency Kanagawa 2
Number of times elected 8
Other important experience Minister for internal affairs and communications
Other notes This is Suga’s first leadership contest.

Discussion

1. Who do you think will be the next prime minister? If you could vote, who would you vote for?

2. How do you think Japans relationship will change with other countries underdifferent leader?