The field of possible candidates for the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election is growing, with various party members scrambling to collect the 20 recommendations needed from LDP lawmakers to run in the race to succeed the incumbent, departing Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda.
Hoping to challenge LDP Secretary General Taro Aso, who officially declared his candidacy Friday morning, are economy minister Kaoru Yosano, former Defense Minister Yuriko Koike and Nobuteru Ishihara, a former LDP policy chief. The trio spent a busy Friday gathering supporters and forming policy platforms.
Friday also saw the emergence of a fifth candidate, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who announced he had succeeded in securing enough support for his bid.