TOKYO: Digital Minister KONO Taro of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party is seen as the most suitable person to become Japan’s next prime minister, a Jiji Press opinion poll showed Thursday.

Kono was named by 17.6 of respondents, followed by former Environment Minister KOIZUMI Shinjiro, with 14.1 percent, former LDP Secretary-General ISHIBA Shigeru, with 13.0 percent, and former Prime Minister SUGA Yoshihide, with 6.8 percent.

Economic security minister TAKAICHI Sanae came fifth, with 3.1 percent, followed by Foreign Minister HAYASHI Yoshimasa, with 2.1 percent, NODA Seiko, former minister in charge of measures against the declining birthrate, with 1.2 percent, and LDP Secretary-General MOTEGI Toshimitsu, with 1.1 percent.

Among names suggested by respondents supporting the LDP, the top five were the same as those chosen by all respondents, while the sixth person was Motegi instead of Hayashi.

Those supporting the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan favored Ishiba the most, Kono the second and Koizumi the third.

In the survey, respondents were presented with a total of 11 ruling and opposition lawmakers and asked to pick their favorite. As many as 22.6 percent of them said their favorite was not included.

In the survey, 2,000 people aged 18 or older were interviewed nationwide for four days through Monday. Valid responses came from 60.1 percent of them.

JIJI Press