Tokyo, Oct 4: Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is heading into a high-stakes runoff on Saturday to choose between two strikingly different candidates — its potential first female leader, Sanae Takaichi, and the youngest contender for the post in modern times, Shinjiro Koizumi. The vote will determine the next LDP president and, most likely, Japan’s next prime minister.
The final round of voting is expected to conclude around 0630 GMT (12 pm IST), with the winner slated to address the nation later in the day. A parliamentary vote to officially select the successor to outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is expected on October 15.
Although the LDP has ruled Japan for most of the postwar era, its grip on power has weakened after losing majorities in both houses under Ishiba’s leadership. With public frustration mounting over inflation and stagnant wages, opposition parties such as the fiscally expansionist Democratic Party for the People and the anti-immigration Sanseito have been steadily drawing younger voters away from the ruling camp.
“The LDP is rotting from within, so it’s about time for a reset,” said Osamu Yoshida, a 70-year-old Takaichi supporter speaking outside Tokyo’s Shimbashi Station. “People want energy and conviction back in leadership.”
Takaichi, 64, a conservative stalwart and the only woman in the race, is known for her staunch nationalism and close ties to the late former prime minister Shinzo Abe. She has pledged to revive elements of “Abenomics,” favouring bold government spending and looser monetary policy. Takaichi has also criticised the Bank of Japan’s recent interest rate hikes, warning they could hurt growth.
Her assertive foreign policy stance could stir diplomatic tensions. She has regularly visited Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine—seen by China and South Korea as a symbol of Japan’s wartime past—and voiced support for revising the country’s pacifist constitution. Earlier this year, she floated the idea of a “quasi-security alliance” with Taiwan, saying Japan must “defend freedom in Asia.”
“If elected, I’ll travel overseas more actively to show that Japan is back on the global stage,” Takaichi said in a campaign statement.
Koizumi, 44, Japan’s current farm minister and the son of former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi, presents a contrasting image — youthful, pragmatic, and media-savvy. He has promised to raise wages and offer targeted relief to households struggling with inflation, though within fiscal limits set by the Ishiba government.
While Koizumi defends the trade deal negotiated with former U.S. President Donald Trump that reduced tariffs in exchange for Japanese investment, Takaichi has hinted at renegotiating it to protect domestic interests.
The runoff will be decided by 295 LDP lawmakers and 47 votes from rank-and-file members representing each prefecture. Party insiders suggest Koizumi enjoys stronger backing among lawmakers, while Takaichi has greater appeal among grassroots supporters.
If Koizumi wins, he will become one of the youngest leaders in Japan’s modern political history—only a few months older than Hirobumi Ito, the country’s first prime minister in 1885.
The winner of the LDP race is expected to hold a press conference around 0900 GMT (2:30 pm IST) to outline their vision for reviving confidence in the world’s fourth-largest economy.
