Home Executive-Insights Leadership Yoshimasa Hayashi Enters LDP R...

Yoshimasa Hayashi Enters LDP Race Aiming to Succeed PM Shigeru Ishiba

Leadership

Business Honor - Hayashi Joins LDP Race to Succeed PM Ishiba

Business Honor
15 September, 2025

Yoshimasa Hayashi aims to succeed Prime Minister Ishiba in the LDP race with rising competition and national challenges.

In an attempt to succeed departing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, the Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi is expected to declare his candidacy in Tokyo for the leadership of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) next month. In the coming days, Hayashi will give a press conference discussing his inspiration for running and laying out his goals. Failing to lead the LDP in 2012 and 2024, making a third attempt at it.

It is expected that the race for leadership would be strong. With current Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, 44; former LDP Secretary General Toshimitsu Motegi, 69; and prior Economic Security Minister Takayuki Kobayashi, 50, are the other candidates in the race. Also 64-year-old Sanae Takaichi, a former minister of economic security, is expected to announce her candidacy shortly.

Hayashi served in major positions in the government, that include minister of agriculture, minister of foreign affairs, and chief cabinet secretary under Prime Minister Ishiba and former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. His strong political experience and modern points of view are recognized. Beginning in 1995, he worked in the House of Councillors before shifting to the House of Representatives in 2021, representing Yamaguchi Prefecture.

As the LDP has a majority in Japan's Diet, the election winner will act as the nation's next prime minister. The new leader will play a major role in determining Japan's future with the country's severe climate issues, regional tensions, and financial shifts carried on by AI and technology. If elected, Hayashi could lead Japan into a new phase of worldwide engagement and innovation. Setting a structure for a flexible, innovative country for the next ten years.