TOKYO -- Former Japanese Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has emerged as the most popular choice to replace outgoing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, according to a Nikkei opinion poll conducted this week.
Nikkei and broadcaster TV Tokyo ran the poll on Wednesday and Thursday, asking who was the best choice to become the next leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party -- and consequently take over as prime minister. Kishida announced last week that he would step down as party president.
