The Three Candidates to Become Japan’s Next Prime Minister
Politics Society
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.
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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. |
(Originally published in Japanese. Banner photo: LDP leadership candidates, from left to right: Ishiba Shigeru, Kishida Fumio, and Suga Yoshihide. © Jiji.)
Abe Shinzō Ishiba Shigeru prime minister Suga Yoshihide Kishida Fumio