The race is on to succeed Fumio Kishida as leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and, hence, as the country’s prime minister, following his announcement on Aug 14 that he will not contest in scheduled party polls in September.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike won re-election to a third term on July 7, according to an exit poll from public broadcaster NHK, fending off challenges from dozens of candidates vying to unseat the incumbent backed ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).