In fact, ahead of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential election, which is effectively the selection of the next Japanese Prime Minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, the former Minister of the Environment and a leading candidate, officially announced his candidacy on the 6th. Former Environment Minister Koizumi held a press conference that morning and stated, "I have decided to run in this presidential election."
He said that if he becomes the party president, he will dissolve the House of Representatives as soon as possible to restore national consensus and then initiate reforms in areas such as labor, politics, and education. He particularly cited constitutional revision, including explicitly stating the Self-Defense Forces, as his top priority, emphasizing, "Next year marks 80 years since the end of World War II and 70 years since the founding of the LDP, and I want to devote all my efforts to this."
He is the second son of Junichiro Koizumi, who led the LDP from 2001 to 2006 and served as Prime Minister. After graduating from Kanto Gakuin University with a degree in Business Administration and earning a master's degree in Political Science from Columbia University in the U.S., he returned to Japan in 2007 and effectively entered politics by working as his father's secretary. He ran for office in 2009 in Kanagawa Prefecture's 11th district, his father's former constituency, and was elected; he is currently a five-term member of the Diet.
His only ministerial experience was as Minister of the Environment for two years starting in 2019 under former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. When he was appointed Environment Minister, he was 38 years old, making him the youngest male minister in history.
Amid the aftermath of the 'slush fund scandal,' some within the LDP expect his youthful image to symbolize party renewal. However, during his tenure as Environment Minister, he was involved in several controversies due to statements lacking substance.
Former Environment Minister Koizumi is a politician who frequently visits Yasukuni Shrine, where Class A war criminals from World War II are enshrined. His father also insisted on visiting Yasukuni Shrine during his tenure as Prime Minister, causing diplomatic conflicts.
So far, six candidates have officially declared their intention to run in this LDP presidential election, including former Environment Minister Koizumi, former LDP Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba, Digital Minister Taro Kono, former Minister in charge of Economic Security Takayuki Kobayashi, LDP Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi, and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi.
According to current opinion polls, the race for the next LDP president is mainly between former Environment Minister Koizumi and former Secretary-General Ishiba.
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