Photo/Illutration Shigeru Ishiba, a former Liberal Democratic Party secretary-general, speaks with reporters in late August. (Ryuichi Yamashita)

Shigeru Ishiba, a four-time candidate for president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, has opted out of this month’s party election and will instead back Taro Kono in the race, sources said.

Ishiba, a former defense minister and LDP secretary-general, had initially said he would not run in the LDP presidential election, but he changed his mind after Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced he would not seek another term as LDP chief.

However, Ishiba again changed his mind after Kono, the state minister in charge of administrative reform, visited him at his office on Sept. 13, according to sources in the LDP faction once headed by Ishiba.

Kono asked for cooperation should he become LDP president and subsequently prime minister, the sources said.

Ishiba has run four times in LDP presidential elections, losing twice to Shinzo Abe, last year to Suga and once to now Finance Minister Taro Aso.

With Ishiba’s decision not to run, the LDP race will likely be a three-person contest between Kono, Fumio Kishida, a former foreign minister, and Sanae Takaichi, a former internal affairs minister.

Sources said Ishiba would make a formal announcement about not running at a faction gathering on Sept. 15.

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