Summary
- Former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has the most support from Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers in the race to pick the successor to Fumio Kishida.
- Koizumi, 43, was backed by over 50 LDP lawmakers ahead of Friday’s voting.
- Key rivals Sanae Takaichi and Shigeru Ishiba each had around 30 supporters.
- Takaichi, Koizumi, and Ishiba are likely to win many votes from rank-and-file party members and party supporters.