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Shigeru Ishiba’s unpopularity among LDP peers

Ishiba has a long history of being a vocal critic of the LDP, earning him a reputation as a turncoat among lawmakers. His most notable act of defiance came in 1993 when he supported a no-confidence vote against then-Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa. This move, along with his departure from the LDP to join a reformist faction led by Ichiro Ozawa, has left a lasting stain on his reputation within the party. Political science professor Yu Uchiyama notes that this history fuels perceptions of Ishiba as a "traitor" among senior politicians.

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Shigeru Ishiba wins LDP leadership, poised to become Japan’s Prime Minister

Ishiba’s path to leadership was cemented in the initial round, where he garnered 154 votes from a pool of nine candidates, advancing to the decisive runoff after Takaichi's 181 votes placed her in contention. Renowned for his expertise in defense and commitment to regional revitalization, Ishiba had consistently ranked high in pre-election polls regarding who would best lead the LDP.

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Koizumi emerges as front-runner in LDP Presidential election

As of September 20, the Mainichi Shimbun reported that Koizumi has secured the backing of over 50 of the 368 Diet members. His nearest competitors are former Minister of Economic Security Takayuki Kobayashi and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi. The Sankei Shimbun's survey corroborates this, indicating that Koizumi also leads in support from LDP members, as assessed through opinion polls targeting party supporters.

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Takaichi supports increased local vote weight in LDP Presidential runoff

Takaichi’s support for increasing local vote influence is aimed at more accurately reflecting the preferences of party members and supporters. Currently, the presidential election process involves two rounds of voting. In the first round, votes are evenly split between Diet members and local party members/supporters. If no candidate secures a majority, the top two candidates advance to a runoff election. The runoff process, however, maintains the same split in vote allocation.

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LDP Presidential election race tightens: Koizumi, Takaichi, and Ishiba lead

According to a survey conducted on September 15 and 16, none of the nine candidates are expected to secure an outright majority in the first round of voting on September 27. Consequently, a runoff election between the top two contenders appears likely. The survey, which targeted LDP supporters, shows Takaichi leading with 27.7%, followed by Ishiba at 23.7%, and Koizumi at 19.1%. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa trails at 6.3%, with other candidates such as Kobayashi Takayuki, Kamikawa Yoko, Kono Taro, Motegi Toshimitsu, and Kato Katsunobu showing even lower support.

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LDP Presidential candidates boost popularity with social media strategies

Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, 71, shared a video on X (formerly Twitter) on September 14, depicting herself in an apron preparing onigiri (rice balls). She highlighted her family tradition and the difficulty of perfecting the shape of the rice balls, emphasizing her respect for Japan's rice-producing regions. Kamikawa’s post not only showcases her culinary skills but also her appreciation for agricultural work, resonating with voters who value traditional industries.

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LDP Presidential debate highlights strategies and key candidates

The candidates' strategies became evident during the session of LDP election, particularly in how they interacted with former Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba and former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi. Both Ishiba and Koizumi, who have been prominent in opinion polls, were each nominated three times by their peers, signaling their strong positions in the race.

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LDP Presidential candidates debate reform and labor issues

The candidates were united in their commitment to addressing LDP’s transparency and financial management issues. Minister of Economic Security Takaichi emphasized that strict measures would be enforced to prevent future infractions, insisting that penalties for misconduct would not be overturned. Kobayashi Takayuki proposed creating a 'Party Modernization Executive Headquarters' to establish and enforce new rules aimed at restoring trust through increased transparency.

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Endorsements for Toshimitsu Motegi in LDP Presidential election

Motegi’s candidacy is supported by a broad coalition of influential figures across various factions within the party. Among the notable supporters from the House of Representatives are Shindo Yoshitaka from Saitama, Azuma Kan of Hokkaido, and Ueda Hidetoshi representing Toyama, all aligned with the Motegi faction. Other significant endorsements include Onishi Hideo from the Abe faction and Kajiyama Hiroshi, who stands as an independent.

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