The governing party of outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is set to hold a crucial vote on Friday to determine the country's new national leader. The vote, limited to the Liberal Democratic Party's parliamentarians and dues-paying members, will ultimately decide Japan's next prime minister due to the party's dominance in parliament.
A record nine candidates, including two women, are competing in this unpredictable race. With no candidate expected to secure a majority in the initial round, a runoff between the top two contenders will likely determine the winner.
