Photo/Illutration Shigeru Ishiba tells reporters he will run for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party leadership post in Yazu, Tottori Prefecture, on Aug. 24. (Kohei Morioka)

Calling it the “last battle” of his political career, veteran Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Shigeru Ishiba on Aug. 24 declared his candidacy for the party leadership post in September.

It will mark his fifth attempt to capture the position, which would automatically make him prime minister due to the party’s majority in the Diet.

Ishiba, who is 67 and a former secretary-general of the ruling LDP, announced his bid in his hometown of Yazu in the western Japan prefecture of Tottori. He called it the culmination of his political life.

Ishiba said he will hold a news conference in Tokyo shortly to explain his policies.

“As the culmination of my 38 years of political life, I will seek support with all my might for this as my last battle,” he said.

With the party’s recent slush fund scandal in mind, Ishiba stressed the need for “rule-abiding politics.”

“If money is necessary for politics, it should be done with moderation,” he said.

He pledged “unlimited transparency” in this regard if he wins the leadership race next month.

Ishiba consistently ranks high in opinion polls conducted by media outlets.

His strength lies in the local votes of party members, who are close to the public opinion.

However, his internal party base is weak, and the focus is on whether he can increase the support of Diet members.

Ishiba has been elected 12 times to the Lower House from Tottori’s 1st district.

He has also served as defense minister and farm minister.

In the second Abe administration, he served as LDP secretary-general.

He ran for LDP president four times: in 2008, 2012, 2018 and 2020.

He finished first in the first round of voting in the 2012 election but was defeated by Shinzo Abe in the runoff election.

(This article was written by Kohei Morioka and Mizuki Sato.)

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