Fumio Kishida wins race to become Japan’s next PM: What you need to know

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The race to lead Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party has concluded, and Fumio Kishida has been declared the winner. This puts him on course to become the next prime minister. He is expected to succeed Yoshihide Suga, who decided to step down after just one year in office.

The first task that Mr. Kishida will have to focus on is to make sure that his party LDP wins the next general election. In the race to rule the LDP, My. Kishida, a former foreign minister, beat out Taro Kono, who was widely regarded as the most popular candidate.

LDP has a majority in Japan’s parliament, hence, it is all but certain that Mr. Kishida will be the next Prime Minister. He had long targeted the PM post but lost to Mr. Suga in the last year’s election.

After winning the party leadership election, Mr, Kishida said, “My skill is to listen to people. I'm determined to make efforts with everyone for an open LDP and a bright future for Japan.”

Fumio Kishida hails from a political family. Both his father and grandfather were members of the country's House of Representatives. He was also the longest-serving foreign minister of Japan from 2012 and 2017. He will become Japan’s 100th Prime Minister.

Voters will be watching how Mr. Kishida aims to balance relations with the US and China before the general elections.