Digital Minister Taro Kono, a candidate for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election, attends a joint speech session with other candidates, at the party's headquarters in Tokyo, Japan Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024.(Kyodo News via AP)
Former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, a candidate for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election, attends a joint speech session with other candidates, at the party's headquarters in Tokyo, Japan Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024.(Kyodo News via AP)
Former Economic Security Minister Takayuki Kobayashi, a candidate for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election, attends a joint speech session with other candidates, at the party's headquarters in Tokyo, Japan Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024.(Kyodo News via AP)
This photo combination shows the candidates of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party for the party's upcoming presidential election. Top row from left, former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba, and Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi. Middle row from left, Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, Digital Minister Taro Kono, and Liberal Democratic Party’s Secretary General Toshimitsu Motegi. Bottom row from left, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, former Economic Security Minister Takayuki Kobayashi and former Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato. Japan will have a new leader after outgoing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s governing Liberal Democratic Party holds a vote on Sept. 27 to choose his replacement. (AP Photo)
Former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba, a candidate for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election, attends a joint speech session with other candidates, at the party's headquarters in Tokyo, Japan Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024.(Kyodo News via AP)
Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi, a candidate for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election, attends a joint speech session with other candidates, at the party's headquarters in Tokyo, Japan Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024.(Kyodo News via AP)
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, a candidate for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election, attends a joint speech session with other candidates, at the party's headquarters in Tokyo, Japan Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024.(Kyodo News via AP)
Japan's governing party, Liberal Democratic Party’s Secretary General Toshimitsu Motegi, a candidate for the party’s presidential election, attends a joint speech session with other candidates, at the party's headquarters in Tokyo, Japan Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024.(Kyodo News via AP)
The candidates of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party for the party's upcoming presidential election attend the meeting of their speeches at the party's headquarters in Tokyo, Japan Thursday, Sept.12, 2024. Candidates are front row from from left, Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi, former Economic Security Minister Takayuki Kobayashi, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, former Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato, Digital Minister Taro Kono, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Liberal Democratic Party’s Secretary General Toshimitsu Motegi at the party’s headquarters n Tokyo, Japan Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)
Former Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato, a candidate for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election, attends a joint speech session with other candidates, at the party's headquarters in Tokyo, Japan Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024.(Kyodo News via AP)
Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, a candidate for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election, attends a joint speech session with other candidates, at the party's headquarters in Tokyo, Japan Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024.(Kyodo News via AP)