Suga set to join race to succeed Abe, media report

Suga will win but only serve out the remaining term of Abe before exiting in October 2021 for public favorite Ishiba.

Hopefully he will get the position! He has my full support!

Basically, from what this article is saying, is that Suga would just be a continuation of Abe. I really hope that this isn’t true, but if it is, then unless the others are the same way, I hope that he loses. But if not, I wonder in which ways he would be different?

Agreed about that smiling photograph, a definite first.

The guy is dry as a bone, emotionless and lacks any skill at communication. He is good at muffled reading from a prepared brief, with zero eye contact, and cutting briefings so short that people forget what they wanted to ask.

Suga...I am not sure the lad has a pulse..white walker for a PM it is then..

Please no...

It seems that he is not as sick as Abe. Appearance can be deceiving, as Americans say.

I think Mr. Suga would be great for PM! But how are we going to keep him awake?

Ishiba Shigeru San is the best among the lot but I am afraid he won't win because the LDP Diet members don't like him. I am OK with whoever emerges winner so long as it is not Aso. The next PM will be gone before the end of 2021 back to the revolving door.

He's just Abe's minion ? Abe loves the power but not the stress, I guess.

There's a been a political vacuum in japan since last December when Shinzo tried to foist Fumio Kishida on the LDP as his annointed successor. The loyal Suga, who was expecting the nod from his boss for his years of lies and coversups, was horrorstruck and the relationship between the two collapsed. This paralysed communication at the top and led to the shambolic Covid-19 response, the endless corruption scandals and the disarray we see now.

To be fair and square, he's probably the most experienced LDP Abe Shinzo-affiliated politician to run for LDP leadership.

He's been chief secretary for as long Abe has been prime minister from 2012-2020.

I do believe that photo is the first one I've ever seen of Suga smiling. I guess he realizes he has to grin for the camera if he wants the job.

Wifey says to me, “ If it’s Suga we have a total puppet on our hands. He sold his soul a long, long time ago.”

She’s not even that politically savvy but it was a pretty definitive statement. He does look like a bit too weirdly like a vampire.

Kono seems the obvious choice, but of course the Japanese people don’t actually get to choose their own leader, so we shall see.

Japan needs a sharp shooter like Kono.

Suga?

God, that's like having Spicer, Huckleberry or MacaNinny as the new POTUS.

He has the charisma of a wet shoe.

Everything that comes out of this guys mouth is a lie. If I could choose I’d go with Kono san. Still glad silver spooned Shin kuhn is gone and please no Aso!’

Suga and Trump will make a great combo on the international stage: the unwitting reincarnation of "Laurel and Hardy", but without their genius for comedy hardly a laughing matter for the rest of us.

Whey they calling it a race? they have already decided long before and this is all just a dog and pony show to give the illusion of a demographic process.

Mr Suga ia a good candidate IMO , kind has the father figure face, but the PM job is not a father figure but rather at this Japan needs toughness, savvy, and able to navigate the murky waters. Mr. Kona fills that bill pretty well.

No !

Suga is going to have a hard time, as he only has Abe behind him. Ishiba is probably the front runner as he had the most support in prior elections.

Kono has problems with support from the different factions in the LDP and I will bet it comes down to Kishida and Ishiba

Kono-san for PM! He will continue PM Abes tough stance against Communist China.

Reasonable, if not only choice for an interim (very temporary) PM, ensuring no changes in J-Gov activities, policies and strategies, while the heavyweights horsetrade for the permanent position, calling in favours and paying their debts to each other. Very conservative, unimaginative, whose only recent activity was announcing the Reiwa era - that's how dull he is.

Where are the female and ethnic candidates..........?

Yeah.....though so.

Not a good sign for new ideas. Not a wise move for the future for Japan.

Low odds in his favor. But Suga would be expected to serve as an interim PM until the next autumn when the regular LDP presidential race is to be conducted. Of course, he has enough time to be able to prove himself as the real top leader. A downside is that he holds no clique or strong support base (favoritism?) within the party.

Suga is a great bureaucrat, but not PM material.

Suga.......man,he looks like death warmed up.

Suga government would extend the fiscal and monetary stimulus

just print money...? my dog can do it for cheaper...

First he needs a bucket of charisma, some idea of his vision for society (beyond regression to the 80s. 30s.) An acceptance of new ideas. A willingness to distance himself from Japan inc, and a willingness to embrace all citizens regardless of their family name. ....whoooo I need to brush my teeth now.

That looks like a doll of Abe in his cabinet

Mini-me. Heaven help us