(22 Sep 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tokyo, Japan – 19 September 2025
1. SOUNDBITE (English) Mayuko Ono, The Associated Press: ++PARTLY OVERLAID++
"Outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s ruling party kicks off an official campaigning to find his replacement. Five candidates are vying for the top job for the Liberal Democratic Party in this highly unpredictable race, with a slogan, “Change, LDP" as they desperately seek to have a new face, who can regain voters’ support after devastating election losses."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tokyo, Japan – 22 September 2025
2. Various of five candidates running of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership race posing for photo
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tokyo, Japan – 19 September 2025
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Mayuko Ono, The Associated Press: ++PARTLY OVERLAID++
"The new party leader is likely to also be prime minister, as the LDP is still by far the number one party in Japan. There is no guarantee, though, because of the party’s lack of majority in parliament. Whoever becomes the leader, must also gain cooperation from opposition parties to achieve any policy and legislation, or would face constant risks of no-confidence motion as Japan’s political uncertainty deepens."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tokyo, Japan – 22 September 2025
4. Various of candidate Sanae Takaichi speaking at news conference
5. Various of candidate Shinjiro Koizumi speaking
6. Candidate Takayuki Kobayashi speaking
7. Pull focus of 2025 LDP leadership race logo
8. Candidate Yoshimasa Hayashi speaking
9. Exterior of LDP headquarters
10. Candidate Toshimitsu Motegi speaking
STORYLINE:
Outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s ruling party opened official campaigning Monday to find a replacement who can restore political stability and voter support for the beleaguered Liberal Democrats.
Five candidates are vying for the party’s top job ahead of a highly unpredictable vote in early October.
The race has a slogan: “Change, LDP.”
The winner must act quickly to address rising prices if the party is to have any chance of winning back support following devastating losses to both the LDP and its junior partner Komeito in the past year that deprived their coalition of a majority in either house of parliament.
Its new leader is still likely to be the prime minister because the LDP remains the top political party in Japan, while opposition groups are too splintered to form a coalition.
Whoever becomes the LDP leader must also gain cooperation from main opposition parties or risk facing constant no-confidence motions and a cycle of short-lived leadership.
The Oct. 4 vote is not open to the general public.
It is limited to 295 LDP parliamentarians and 1 million dues-paying grassroots party members.
That’s less than 1% of Japan’s eligible voters.
The candidate who secures a majority becomes a party leader.
If nobody wins a majority, there will be a runoff between the top two candidates in the first round.
To be elected as prime minister, the new party leader will need votes from some opposition lawmakers in a parliamentary leadership vote, to be held within days.
All five candidates are incumbent and former Cabinet ministers.
They call themselves moderate conservatives as they emphasize their willingness to work with opposition groups.
Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and former economic security minister Sanae Takaichi are considered the top contenders.
The country ranks near the bottom internationally for gender equality, especially in politics.
AP video by Mayuko Ono
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