In battle of personality, Japan is set to get its first female PM or its youngest

Both front runners are trying to broaden their appeal after learning from past failure

- Walter Sim Japan Correspondent

Japanese politics is entering a season of deja vu, as five of nine candidates in the fray to lead the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in 2024 have again thrown their hats into the ring.

Can last year's runner-up former economic security minister Sanae Takaichi, 64 finally get her moment in the sun on her third attempt, having also contested in 2021 when she placed third among the four contenders?

Ms Takaichi led the pack in the first round in 2024, but had the tables turned on her by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, 68, who scored a come-from-behind victory in a runoff vote between the top two candidates.

On Sept 7, Mr Ishiba said he would step down to prevent the party from splintering, as his rivals agitate for his ouster after disastrous electoral performances left the LDP and its coalition partner Komeito in a minority government.

Also in the race to succeed Mr Ishiba are the thirdto sixth-placed finishers in 2024: Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, 44; Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, 64; Ms Takaichi's predecessor as economic security minister Takayuki Kobayashi, 50; and former foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi, 69.

While policy is important, experts believe the battle will ultimately be fought on personality, with Ms Takaichi and Mr Koizumi the likely front runners barring any surprises during the campaigning period, which officially kicks off on Sept 22 ahead of the Oct 4 party vote.

Doshisha University political scientist Toru Yoshida told The Sunday Times that LDP lawmakers and rank-and-file members will likely back a candidate who "has name recognition and can win elections".

The key, ultimately, is to shift public perceptions of the LDP as a staid party of old men - leader Sohei Kamiya of the opposition Sanseito party has described the ruling party as being "run by granddads" - and regain public trust after a series of damaging political slush fund and corruption scandals.