TOKYO: Japan’s economic security minister TAKAICHI Sanae is stepping up her activities with an eye toward the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s presidential election expected to be held this September.

The 63-year-old plans to hold a string of lectures around the country in July and August, as well as publish a book on Monday, the second anniversary of the death of former Prime Minister ABE Shinzo, who backed Takaichi in the previous LDP leadership race in 2021.

“I don’t have anything to say,” Takaichi told reporters with a smile when asked about whether she will run in the upcoming election, during a press conference held on Friday.

In the 2021 election, Takaichi, receiving Abe’s full support, garnered 114 votes in the first round of voting done by lawmakers, the second highest out of the four candidates, despite it being her first LDP presidential bid.

While current Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio went on to eventually win the election to become LDP chief, informed sources said that since then, Takaichi has repeatedly said that she will run in the party’s next leadership race.

In November last year, Takaichi launched a study group, effectively kicking off her preparations to run for party president.

On Monday, which marks exactly two years since Abe was fatally shot while delivering a stump speech in western Japan in 2022, Takaichi will publish her book on economic security, which is something that she has worked on over the past two years as a member of Kishida’s cabinet.

She is set to deliver lectures in Tokyo on July 16, the northeastern prefecture of Miyagi on July 21, the southern prefecture of Okinawa on July 28 and the western prefecture of Hyogo on Aug. 3.

“One thing is for certain–she’s motivated,” a veteran lawmaker close to Takaichi said.

Still, many within the LDP believe that Takaichi put up a good fight in the previous election mainly thanks to Abe’s backing. Back then, Abe urged members of the party’s largest faction to support Takaichi.

With Takaichi, if she runs in the upcoming LDP election, having have to fight without this backing, a midranking party member said, “I don’t think she will garner much support this time.”

By the end of this year’s 150-day ordinary session of Japan’s parliament on June 23, Takaichi’s study group had hosted 11 sessions, with only about a dozen or so people participating each time.

As Takaichi is an incumbent cabinet member, some people close to her have voiced concerns that she may come under heavy criticism if she is perceived as having “revolted” against Kishida by running for LDP president.

This is apparently a source of worry for Takaichi herself, who is believed to be fretting about whether she can secure enough number of supporters in her possible LDP presidential bid. Recommendations from at least 20 party lawmakers are needed to run in an LDP presidential election.

After a media report said Sunday that Takaichi is planning to throw her hat in the ring, she took to X, formerly Twitter, to say that such a report was published in an attempt to “crush” her. On Tuesday, Takaichi told a press conference, “My duties as a minister have been affected (by the report) and I will not answer any more questions.”

JIJI Press