Japan ruling party's leadership race kicks off

The race to lead Japan's main ruling Liberal Democratic Party has officially kicked off, Report informs via NHK World-Japan.

Five lawmakers filed their candidacy papers on Monday morning in the hopes of succeeding Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru.

Ishiba triggered the LDP's presidential election earlier this month after announcing his decision to resign.

He had faced growing calls to take responsibility for back-to-back election losses.

Here are the candidates: Former Economic Security Minister Kobayashi Takayuki, the party's former Secretary-General Motegi Toshimitsu, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa, former Economic Security Minister Takaichi Sanae, and Agriculture Minister Koizumi Shinjiro.

The candidates are after the 590 ballots up for grabs. LDP Diet members will cast 295 of them.

The rest are voted on by rank-and-file members.

If no one secures more than half of the votes, there will be a runoff between the two top candidates -- 342 votes will be on offer in that case. LDP lawmakers would cast the most, with 295. The party's local chapters would submit the other 47.

Becoming party leader does not guarantee becoming prime minister. The Lower and Upper houses of the Diet make that decision. The LDP and its coalition partner Komeito lost their majorities in the last two national elections.

The campaign lasts 12 days.

The candidates will participate in debates. They also plan to deliver speeches at campaign rallies organized by the party in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka.

Vote counting is set for October 4th.

Noda Yoshihiko, president of the largest opposition group, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, said the LDP leadership candidates' policies and remarks are taking the opposition parties' views into account.

Noda said a considerable chemical reaction is occurring and there is a chance to realize his party's policies.

His party favors measures including cash handouts, tax breaks and abolition of the provisional gasoline tax.