Two candidates have made it to round 2, who will become the new Prime Minister?

On September 27, Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) voted to choose a new leader from among nine candidates running for the election.

Staff count ballots during the first round of voting on September 27. (Source: Kyodo)

In the first round, 368 LDP lawmakers from both houses of parliament and 368 LDP members from across the country elected the party president.

The nine candidates running for the LDP presidency include former LDP Secretary-General and former Defense Minister Ishiba Shigeru (67 years old), Economy Minister Takaichi Sanae (63 years old), former Environment Minister Koizumi Shinjiro (43 years old), LDP Secretary-General Motegi Toshimitsu (68 years old), Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko (71 years old), Digital Reform Minister Kono Taro (61 years old), former Economic Security Minister Kobayashi Takayuki (49 years old), Health and Labor Minister Kato Katsunobu (68 years old) and Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa (63 years old).

According to the earliest information from Nikkei Asia , the two candidates Takaichi Sanae and Ishiba Shigeru won the highest number of votes, 181 and 154 votes respectively. However, because they did not reach an absolute majority of over 50%, the two candidates will advance to the second round of voting.

In the second round, held on September 27, the number of votes from parliamentarians remained unchanged, but only 47 party members, representing Japan's provinces, participated in the vote.

Both Mr. Ishiba and Ms. Takaichi gave short speeches before the second round of voting began.

"We will end the widespread distrust of the party. After the election, we will wholeheartedly protect the country, the localities, the rules and the people of Japan," former LDP Secretary General Ishiba said.

Meanwhile, Ms. Takaichi said: "I entered the second round of voting as a female candidate, this is a historic moment for Japan. I want to ensure that economic activity spreads to every corner of Japan, so that the next generation can live safely."

The LDP president serves a three-year term and can serve up to three consecutive terms. The LDP leader becomes Japan's prime minister because the ruling coalition led by the party currently holds a majority in the Diet.

Japan's parliament will hold an extraordinary session in early October to vote, as a procedural matter, to elect a new Prime Minister to replace Mr. Kishida Fumio.

Prime Minister Kishida and his cabinet will resign on October 1 and the new Prime Minister will form a new Cabinet later that day.

The LDP leader or new Japanese Prime Minister will run the world's fourth largest economy in a period of high inflation, rising living costs, and a weak Yen. Japan's new leader also faces growing security challenges in the region and around the world.

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