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[Breaking News]Japan LDP leadership election

TOKYO, Japan, Sept. 22 Kyodo - The five candidates for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election -- former economic security minister Takayuki Kobayashi, former Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, former internal affairs minister Sanae Takaichi and agriculture minister Shinjiro Koizumi -- prepare to make policy speeches at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo on Sept. 22, 2025, the first day of official campaigning for the Oct. 4 election.

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LDP leadership election

Former Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi makes a policy speech at the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's headquarters in Tokyo on Sept. 22, 2025, as official campaigning for the Oct. 4 LDP leadership election begins.

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LDP leadership election

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi makes a policy speech at the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's headquarters in Tokyo on Sept. 22, 2025, as official campaigning for the Oct. 4 LDP leadership election begins.

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LDP leadership election

Former Japanese internal affairs minister Sanae Takaichi makes a policy speech at the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's headquarters in Tokyo on Sept. 22, 2025, as official campaigning for the Oct. 4 LDP leadership election begins.

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LDP leadership election

Japanese farm minister Shinjiro Koizumi makes a policy speech at the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's headquarters in Tokyo on Sept. 22, 2025, as official campaigning for the Oct. 4 LDP leadership election begins.

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LDP leadership election

Former Japanese economic security minister Takayuki Kobayashi makes a policy speech at the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's headquarters in Tokyo on Sept. 22, 2025, as official campaigning for the Oct. 4 LDP leadership election begins.

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LDP leadership election

People gather in front of JR Shimbashi Station in Tokyo on Sept. 22, 2025, to listen to former Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi making a stump speech as official campaigning for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's Oct. 4 leadership election begins.

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Japan LDP leadership election

The five candidates for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election -- (seated in front row of stage, from L) former economic security minister Takayuki Kobayashi, former Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, former internal affairs minister Sanae Takaichi and agriculture minister Shinjiro Koizumi -- prepare to make policy speeches at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo on Sept. 22, 2025, the first day of official campaigning for the Oct. 4 election. ==Kyodo

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Upper house election campaigning

Voters listen to Sohei Kamiya, leader of the minor opposition Sanseito party in front of JR Shimbashi Station in Tokyo on July 3, 2025, as official campaigning for the July 20 House of Councillors election begins.

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Japan upper house election campaign

People listen to a stump speech in Tokyo's Ikebukuro area on July 3, 2025, as official campaigning begins for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Japan upper house election campaign

Tetsuo Saito, head of the Komeito party, the junior partner in Japan's ruling coalition, makes a stump speech in Kobe, western Japan, on July 3, 2025, as official campaigning begins for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Japan upper house election debate

Leaders of eight Japanese political parties take part in a debate at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on July 2, 2025, a day before official campaigning begins for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Japan upper house election campaign

Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura, head of the Japan Innovation Party, makes a stump speech in the western Japan city of Osaka on July 3, 2025, as official campaigning began the same day for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Japan upper house election campaign

Japanese Communist Party Chair Tomoko Tamura makes a stump speech in Tokyo on July 3, 2025, as official campaigning begins for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Japan upper house election campaign

Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura, head of the Japan Innovation Party, makes a stump speech in the western Japan city of Osaka on July 3, 2025, as official campaigning begins for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Japan upper house election campaign

Novelist Naoki Hyakuta, head of the ultranationalist Conservative Party of Japan, makes a stump speech in Tokyo on July 3, 2025, as official campaigning begins for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Japan upper house election campaign

Novelist Naoki Hyakuta, head of the ultranationalist Conservative Party of Japan, makes a stump speech in Tokyo on July 3, 2025, as official campaigning begins for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Japan upper house election campaign

Sohei Kamiya, head of the conservative populist Sanseito party, makes a stump speech in Tokyo on July 3, 2025, as official campaigning begins for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Japan upper house election debate

Leaders of eight Japanese political parties -- (from L) Sohei Kamiya of the Sanseito party, Tomoko Tamura of the Japanese Communist Party, Tetsuo Saito of the Komeito party, Yoshihiko Noda of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, head of the Liberal Democratic Party, Hirofumi Yoshimura of the Japan Innovation Party, Yuichiro Tamaki of the Democratic Party for the People and Taro Yamamoto of the Reiwa Shinsengumi party -- pose for a photo at a debate at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on July 2, 2025, a day before official campaigning begins for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Japan upper house election campaign

Tetsuo Saito, head of the Komeito party, the junior partner in Japan's ruling coalition, makes a stump speech in Kobe, western Japan, on July 3, 2025, as official campaigning begins for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Japan upper house election campaign

Yuichiro Tamaki, head of the small opposition Democratic Party for the People, makes a stump speech in Tokyo on July 3, 2025, as official campaigning begins for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Japan upper house election campaign

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows people listening to a stump speech in Kobe, western Japan, on July 3, 2025, as official campaigning begins for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Japan upper house election campaign

Taro Yamamoto, head of the anti-establishment Reiwa Shinsengumi party, makes a stump speech in Tokyo on July 3, 2025, as official campaigning begins for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Japan upper house election debate

Leaders of eight Japanese political parties take part in a debate at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on July 2, 2025, a day before official campaigning begins for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Japan upper house election debate

Leaders of eight Japanese political parties take part in a debate at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on July 2, 2025, a day before official campaigning begins for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Japan upper house election campaign

Mizuho Fukushima, head of the tiny opposition Social Democratic Party, makes a stump speech in Tokyo on July 3, 2025, as official campaigning begins for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Japan upper house election campaign

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows people listening to a stump speech in Kobe, western Japan, on July 3, 2025, as official campaigning begins for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Japan upper house election campaign

Shinji Ishimaru, head of the fringe Path to Rebirth party, makes a stump speech in Tokyo on July 3, 2025, as official campaigning begins for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Japan upper house election campaign

Japanese prime minister Shigeru Ishiba, head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, makes a stump speech in Kobe, western Japan, on July 3, 2025, as official campaigning begins for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Japan upper house election campaign

Yoshihiko Noda, head of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, makes a stump speech in Kunitomi in Miyazaki Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on July 3, 2025, as official campaigning begins for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Japan upper house election campaign

Yoshihiko Noda, head of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, makes a stump speech in Kunitomi in Miyazaki Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on July 3, 2025, as official campaigning begins for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Japan upper house election campaign

Japanese prime minister Shigeru Ishiba, head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, makes a stump speech in Kobe, western Japan, on July 3, 2025, as official campaigning begins for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Japan upper house election campaign

Japanese Communist Party Chair Tomoko Tamura makes a stump speech in Tokyo on July 3, 2025, as official campaigning begins for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Japan upper house election campaign

Takashi Tachibana, head of the fringe NHK Party, makes a stump speech in Kobe, western Japan, on July 3, 2025, as official campaigning begins for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Japan upper house election campaign

Mizuho Fukushima, head of the tiny opposition Social Democratic Party, makes a stump speech in Tokyo on July 3, 2025, as official campaigning begins for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Japan upper house election debate

Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura, head of the Japan Innovation Party, speaks during a debate with other political party leaders at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on July 2, 2025, a day before official campaigning begins for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Japan upper house election debate

Taro Yamammoto, head of the anti-establishment Reiwa Shinsengumi party, speaks during a debate with other political party leaders at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on July 2, 2025, a day before official campaigning begins for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Japan upper house election debate

Japanese Communist Party Chair Tomoko Tamura speaks during a debate with other political party leaders at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on July 2, 2025, a day before official campaigning begins for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Japan upper house election debate

Yuichiro Tamaki, head of the small opposition Democratic Party for the People, speaks during a debate with other political party leaders at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on July 2, 2025, a day before official campaigning begins for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Japan upper house election debate

Sohei Kamiya, head of the conservative populist Sanseito party, speaks during a debate with other political party leaders at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on July 2, 2025, a day before official campaigning begins for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Japan upper house election debate

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, speaks during a debate with other political party leaders at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on July 2, 2025, a day before official campaigning begins for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Japan upper house election debate

Yoshihiko Noda, head of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, speaks during a debate with other political party leaders at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on July 2, 2025, a day before official campaigning begins for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Japan upper house election debate

Tetsuo Saito, head of the Komeito party, the junior partner in Japan's ruling coalition, speaks during a debate with other political party leaders at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on July 2, 2025, a day before official campaigning begins for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Japan upper house election debate

Combined photo shows leaders of eight Japanese political parties -- (from L) Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, head of the Liberal Democratic Party, Yoshihiko Noda of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, Tetsuo Saito of the Komeito party, Hirofumi Yoshimura of the Japan Innovation Party, Tomoko Tamura of the Japanese Communist Party, Yuichiro Tamaki of the Democratic Party for the People, Taro Yamamoto of the Reiwa Shinsengumi party and Sohei Kamiya of the Sanseito party -- speaking during a debate at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on July 2, 2025, a day before official campaigning begins for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Japan upper house election debate

(from L) Yoshihiko Noda of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, head of the Liberal Democratic Party, and Hirofumi Yoshimura of the Japan Innovation Party are pictured during a debate of eight political party leaders at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on July 2, 2025, a day before official campaigning begins for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Japan upper house election debate

(from L) Yoshihiko Noda of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, head of the Liberal Democratic Party, and Hirofumi Yoshimura of the Japan Innovation Party are pictured during a debate of eight political party leaders at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on July 2, 2025, a day before official campaigning begins for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Japan upper house election debate

Leaders of eight Japanese political parties take part in a debate at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on July 2, 2025, a day before official campaigning begins for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Japan upper house election debate

Leaders of eight Japanese political parties -- (from L) Sohei Kamiya of the Sanseito party, Tomoko Tamura of the Japanese Communist Party, Tetsuo Saito of the Komeito party, Yoshihiko Noda of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, head of the Liberal Democratic Party, Hirofumi Yoshimura of the Japan Innovation Party, Yuichiro Tamaki of the Democratic Party for the People and Taro Yamamoto of the Reiwa Shinsengumi party -- pose for a photo at a debate at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on July 2, 2025, a day before official campaigning begins for the July 20 House of Councillors election.

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Campaigning begins for Tokyo assembly vote

Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, speaks in a stump speech in Tokyo on June 13, 2025, the first day of official campaigning for the Tokyo metropolitan assembly election.

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Campaigning begins for Tokyo assembly vote

Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, speaks in a stump speech in Tokyo on June 13, 2025, the first day of official campaigning for the Tokyo metropolitan assembly election.