In this file photo, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe holds a news conference regarding the declaration of a state of emergency, at his office in Tokyo on April 7, 2020. (Mainichi/Kan Takeuchi)

       TOKYO -- Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is increasingly wielding his influence on the candidates in the upcoming Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential election, as he has significant clout on the largest Hosoda faction that could sway the outcome of LDP Diet legislators' votes.

       While Abe is backing former Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Sanae Takaichi in the Sept. 29 LDP leadership election, contenders Fumio Kishida, former LDP policy chief, and administrative reform minister Taro Kono are apparently wooing Abe by announcing policy packages favorable to the conservative wing.

       "I'm really grateful. His influence is too great for me to ask for his support, so I was truly surprised," Takaichi told reporters in Tokyo on Sept. 9 after acquiring Abe's backing.

       Speaking about the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea, Takaichi indicated eagerness to resolve the situation, saying, "Japan can still strengthen sanctions against North Korea. The point is how we communicate to them Japan's seriousness." By appealing for a solution to the abduction problem -- a top priority of the former Abe administration -- Takaichi apparently sought to give the impression she is Abe's "heir."

       Since Abe's successor Yoshihide Suga announced he would not run in the LDP presidential race, thereby putting an end to his one-year stint as prime minister, Abe has kept a low profile regarding the election. Nevertheless, many Diet lawmakers have been visiting Abe to sound out his intentions for the party poll. Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato and Takumi Nemoto, secretary-general of the Kishida faction, went to see him on Sept. 9.

       Kishida envisioned a basic strategy of winning backing from two LDP heavyweights -- Abe and Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso -- to secure Diet members' votes in the LDP race. But Abe's decision to instead back Takaichi could have an immeasurable impact on the election's outcome. Kishida has thus been increasingly alarmed by the situation.

       At a Sept. 8 press conference to announce his policy plans, Kishida underscored his intention to follow the Abenomics economic policy mix promoted by the Abe administration, stating: "The policy of bailing the country out of the deflationary economy will remain unchanged. I will uphold the three principles of bold monetary policy, flexible fiscal policy, and growth strategy."

       The day before, Kishida apparently paid consideration to Abe and Aso over the Finance Ministry's document tampering scandal in connection with the heavily discounted sale of state land to nationalist school operator Moritomo Gakuen, in which the two came under fire. "I'm not thinking about opening a reinvestigation into the case," Kishida said.

       Administrative reform minister Kono, meanwhile, has attracted support primarily from junior LDP legislators, but is yet to secure understanding from seasoned lawmakers in the Aso faction he belongs to. Kono has been outspoken about Japan breaking from nuclear power, and made remarks in favor of allowing emperors of female lineage. His views have created an impression of a "radical reformist," which is a source of some discomfort among veteran faction members.

       Given the circumstances, Kono aims to drum up a certain level of support from the conservative wing and Hosoda faction by approaching Abe, thereby achieving the backing of senior Aso faction lawmakers. On Sept. 8, prior to the Sept. 10 formal announcement of his candidacy, Kono visited Abe's office to seek understanding for his candidacy in the LDP leadership race, and told the former prime minister there is "no need for concern" over his past views on nuclear power and Imperial succession.

       While the LDP is seeking to drive home how party has changed via the election of a new president and ahead of the looming House of Representatives race, in reality the party poll candidates are lobbying former party president Abe. A midranking LDP legislator told the Mainichi Shimbun, "No matter who is next elected party president, they may turn out to have been backed by Abe."

       (Japanese original by Shu Hatakeyama, Hiroshi Odanaka and Shuhei Endo, Political News Department)

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