Overview

• The Liberal Democratic Party formally launched its leadership contest on September 22, starting a 12-day campaign ahead of the October 4 vote.
• Five contenders filed: Kobayashi Takayuki, Motegi Toshimitsu, Hayashi Yoshimasa, Takaichi Sanae and Koizumi Shinjiro.
• Key debates center on cost-of-living relief and how to structure governance under a limited ruling coalition, with the party’s cash-payment pledge drawing renewed scrutiny.
• Hayashi faced internal blowback after calling Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s resignation “inevitable” and questioning the cash handout plan; he later retracted the latter comment and apologized as inappropriate, according to reporting.
• The leader will be chosen by 590 votes split evenly between 295 Diet members and 295 party members and affiliates, making grassroots support as pivotal as parliamentary backing.