TOKYO (Reuters) -- Sanae Takaichi, a veteran Japanese lawmaker and fiscal dove, said on Thursday she would run in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party leadership race on Oct. 4 to replace outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Takaichi, who hopes to become Japan's first female prime minister, is seen as a front-runner in the race along with farm minister Shinjiro Koizumi. She said she would hold a news conference on Friday to explain her policy stance.
Prime Minister Ishiba announced his resignation this month to take responsibility for a series of bruising election losses after being in office for less than a year.
Reports since then that Takaichi could go for the job have roiled financial markets as the former internal affairs minister has been a vocal proponent of government stimulus and monetary easing.
The other candidates are Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, former Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and former Economic Security Minister Takayuki Kobayashi.
