On topic: Who will win the race to become Japan's next prime minister?

With nine candidates, Japan's ruling party holds its most crowded leadership race ever on Sept. 27. Among those running for Liberal Democratic Party president are two women. Many of the candidates have served as defense and foreign ministers as well as in other senior government and party positions.

The winner will be rubber-stamped as Japanese prime minister when parliament reconvenes in early October.

A million local LDP supporters, representing less than 1% of the Japanese population, will have the same say as the LDP's 368 party legislators in the initial round of voting. But as no candidate is expected to secure a majority at that stage, the vote of the legislators will then gain much more weight in a runoff between the two front-runners.

Who are the top contenders, and what are their policies? This selection of stories will help you catch up on the latest.

Ruling LDP begins PM race: 5 things to know

Five of the LDP's six intraparty factions, which played an influential role in previous presidential elections, have decided to dissolve in the wake of a political funding scandal that came to light late last year. With factional control thus weakened, it has become easier for candidates to enter the leadership contest. The winner will succeed Fumio Kishida and be appointed Japan's 102nd prime minister at the Diet, where the party holds the most seats in both the upper and lower houses. Read more.

Japan's next prime minister: Old guard, young blood or first woman?

The result of the vote could bring a generational change. At 43, former environment minister Shinjiro Koizumi is a prominent candidate. As well as being the son of Junichiro Koizumi, one of Japan's best-known prime ministers internationally, Koizumi would become the country's youngest prime minister since the 19th century.

Japan could also have its first woman prime minister, with two female members of Kishida's cabinet standing, including Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi, 63.

Former LDP Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba, 67, is making his fifth try for the top job. He receives a lot of backing from local LDP supporters. Read more.

Ishiba leads Koizumi in Japan leadership race: Nikkei poll

Former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba ranked the best choice to lead the party, overtaking Shinjiro Koizumi in a recent opinion poll conducted after the nine candidates were confirmed. Hawkish Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi, who sees herself as an heir to former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, ranked third among all survey respondents. Read more.

Abe protege Takaichi is stock market's top choice for Japan leader

Sanae Takaichi is the most popular choice among stock market pros to become Japan's next leader, according to a monthly survey. Takaichi led the poll with 29% of responses, as market participants were hopeful the lawmaker would pursue economic policies similar to "Abenomics" -- those of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Read more.

Japan PM hopeful Ishiba floats joint U.S. base management in Okinawa

Former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba proposed U.S. military bases in Okinawa prefecture be managed jointly with Japanese forces, saying so in a public forum among all candidates. The security discussion comes as China ramps up military pressure on Taiwan and expands its maritime presence in the East and South China seas. Read more.