The race for the coveted title of Japan’s next Prime Minister is on.

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party is finalising its plans to hold the party's leadership election on 27th September. This comes after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced that he will not re-contest for a second term as leader of the incumbent Liberal Democratic Party, after his tenure ends in September.

The upcoming election, the first since 2021 when Kishida was elected party's leader, is expected to see several lawmakers vie for the post to succeed Kishida, with the winner to be anointed prime minister given the ruling coalition controls both houses of parliament.

On this episode of Morning Shot, Professor Tomohiko Taniguchi, Special Advisor to former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Cabinet and Specially Appointed Professor at the University of Tsukuba weighs in.

Presented by: Audrey Siek
Produced & Edited by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)