Yasuo Fukuda, licensed to thrill

Richard Lloyd Parry
Tokyo

Japan’s nationalist right-wing is under assault after Yasuo Fukuda, a moderate within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party emerged as a challenger to the conservative favourite, Taro Aso, for the job of prime minister.

Mr Fukuda (pictured left, in his earlier job as a ninja), who favours greater engagement with Japan’s Asian neighbours and opposes visits to the controversial Yasukuni war shrine, will announce his candidacy for the leadership of the LDP today, according to Japanese television, a job that guarantees election to the post of prime minister.

Yesterday the outgoing prime minister, Shinzo Abe, whose sudden resignation on Wednesday brought about the political crisis, was admitted to hospital suffering from inflamed bowels, extreme weakness and stress. Although he technically remains in charge until a successor is chosen, his sudden abandonment of his post has provoked dismay and anger, and left Japan effectively leaderless at a time of intense political conflict.

Japan’s finance minister, Fukushiro Nukaga, became the first member of the LDP formally to announce his candidacy for the leadership election which will be held on 23 September. Sadakazu Tanigaki, another moderate and former finance minister, may also step forward when nominations are filed today. But it is the prospect of a battle between Mr Fukuda and Mr Aso, in opposite ideological corners of the ruling party, that will be the focus of excitement over the next week.