Japan's main opposition party begins leadership race with eyes on general election

Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan to vote for new head on Sept. 23

Candidates for the leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan attend a news conference on Sept. 7 in Tokyo. From right to left, Yoshihiko Noda, Yukio Edano, Kenta Izumi and Harumi Yoshida. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi)

September 7, 2024 12:05 JST

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Official campaigning for the race to choose the leader of Japan's largest opposition party began Saturday as it gears up for a likely general election later in the year.

Yoshihiko Noda, 67, who served as Japan's prime minister from 2011 to 2012 under the now-defunct Democratic Party of Japan, is one of four candidates in the Sept. 23 election for leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan.