Combo photo shows Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership election candidates Taro Kono, Fumio Kishida, Sanae Takaichi and Seiko Noda (from L to R) attending a joint press conference at the party's headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, on Sept. 17, 2021. Campaigning for the leadership race of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to choose the successor to Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga officially began on Friday, with four veteran lawmakers competing for the leader position. The LDP election is set for Sept. 29, and is being contested by former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, former communications minister Sanae Takaichi, vaccination minister Taro Kono and Seiko Noda, executive acting secretary-general of the LDP. (Kimimasa Mayama/Pool via Xinhua)
