The race to become Japan's next prime minister has begun, with a record nine candidates vying to lead the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and succeed current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Leading contenders include Shinjiro Koizumi, the photogenic son of a former premier, and Shigeru Ishiba, a former defense minister. Nationalist Sanae Takaichi, aiming to be Japan's first female prime minister, and Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, another prominent female candidate, are also in the running. The election, set for September 27, follows Kishida's scandal-tainted term. While the leadership contest promises a range of policy debates, significant shifts in Japan's current government policies are not anticipated.