LDP leader likely to be decided in runoff vote between Kono, Kishida

Kishida, who is viewed as more stable.

controllable I think they mean.

Takaichi was an attempt by Abe to install another puppet because after his self imposed hiding from his pandemic mishandling and backing of the failed trump, Abe replaced himself with a socially awkward "Yes-Man" Suga. He thought by choosing Takaichi for next PM that her gender representation schtick would get the public behind his candidate by being progressive, but she is an extremist wacko.

Abe's opposition factions got Noda to run at the last minute knowing she would not win, but it would split the support for a woman candidate because both of the candidates policies were not at all that popular. Thus, nullifying voters interested in gender representation.

In the meantime, the J-gov has been manipulating the testing process in this month to record lower infection numbers without displaying testing numbers to give the impression that everything is safe because of the LDP. Of course, it is a coincidence that person in charge of handling the pandemic is running for PM.

All while ending the SOE a week two before the election, so people won't be reminded of the LDP's failure during the public's waiting in line to vote.

Oh what a surprise. Time to focus on other parties too now thanks.

The two men, shocker!

and therefore prime minister

and therefore prime minister for a month until official elections are held.

Why did the two female candidates bother running? Just to give themselves a bit of publicity?

Shocker

Democracy at work..... ?

Let the people put a cross on a piece of paper every four years to let them think they have a say in how they are governed...So cute.

The only 'decent' candidate has absolutely no chance, as it is all pre-ordained. Progressive governing is an impossibility. Which does not portend well for the future of the Japanese people. An outmoded and antiquated governing structure continues to serve the intended purpose - preservation of the status quo and almost hereditary rule by the elect, a veritable political aristocracy.

Personally speaking, give Kishida a shot! At least with him, there will be a possible reopening of the Moritomo Gakuen scandal and Abe's role in it! WIth Kono, no one knows what to expect, as he has a habit of talking the talk, but never backing it up with anything of substance!

And in the end, the tax payer gets nothing out of this. Just the same mono color future.

I mean, we all know how this is gonna turn out. Let's not look so surprised, because for a year now we have been seeing on TV who is pushing himself to the forefront, who has been basically given a post instead of the Health Minister,...Elections, as well as intra-party squabbles, are as transparent in Japan as nowhere else.

I wonder if any of them will make any difference.

Now that the 2 female candidates have served as window dressing, the race can get serious and the runoff among the "rightful" male contenders can begin...

Added with the 382 votes held by the party's rank-and-file members, Kono is set to end up with more than 300, Kishida around 230, Takaichi just under 170 and Noda around 35.

While parliamentarians and rank-and-file members hold an equal number of votes in the first round, the runoff gives greater weight to the former -- 382 compared with 47 for the party's prefectural chapters.

This gives Kishida an advantage in a head-to-head battle, given most of Takaichi's supporters in the Diet are likely to favor him over Kono.

Kishida’s 230 + Takaichi’s 170 exceeds Kono’s 300

It is increasingly looking like Kishida is going to win this.

Well, Kishida and Edano are still in the run, are they?

Err, they are not even in the same party! lol

David BrentToday  04:21 pm JST

"Well, Kishida and Edano are still in the run, are they?"

Err, they are not even in the same party! lol

Indeed not, but the Diet needs to vote on who the Prime Minister will be and the CDPJ will undoubtedly nominate Edano. I think his chances are slim, personally.

Poor Japanese people. another waste of time. Both wrong candidates.

Actually have hope for Kishida.

He's by the far the best candidate outside of Yukio Edano.

Agricultural, seems to be anti-America nuclear subs deal and young enough to be prime minister for a long time.

Things are looking up for Japan!

@ Richard Gallagher

Well, Kishida and Edano are still in the run, are they?

Kono wins. Big surprise.

Good we don’t need a vaccine man as a priminister

senior party official Seiko Noda a little more than 20.

Noda is a disaster. Thank goodness she doesn’t have a prayer to be PM.