TOKYO: Former Japanese Environment Minister KOIZUMI Shinjiro is leading the race to become the next leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, followed by former LDP Secretary-General ISHIBA Shigeru, a Jiji Press public opinion poll showed Thursday.

In the poll, conducted over four days through Monday, Koizumi was favored by 25.5 percent of respondents, up from 12.5 percent in the previous poll in August, and Ishiba was named by 24.2 percent, up from 18.7 percent.

Economic security minister TAKAICHI Sanae and digital transformation minister KONO Taro came in third with 8.5 percent and fourth with 4.9 percent, respectively.

Among respondents who support the LDP, support stood at 35.6 percent for Koizumi, 27.1 percent for Ishiba, 12.1 percent for Takaichi and 3.6 percent for Kono.

The interview-based survey covered 2,000 people aged 18 or over across Japan, with 58.5 percent of them giving valid answers.

JIJI Press