Who might succeed Fumio Kishida as Japan’s prime minister?

People walk past a large screen in Tokyo on Aug 14 showing news about Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's decision to step down after party polls in September. - Reuters

TOKYO: 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 Wednesday (Aug 14) that he will not contest in scheduled party polls in September.

The key contest is for party president, with the vote likely to take place in the latter half of September. As the LDP is Japan’s ruling party, its president is by default the Japanese prime minister.