Japan

The contest for leadership of Japan’s ruling party has commenced, with current Prime Minister Naoto Kan and contender Ichiro Ozawa issuing separate policy statements Sept. 1. Lawmakers and local supporters of the Democratic Party of Japan are scheduled to vote Sept. 14, The Washington Post says, adding that recent polls in the country indicate that the public is favoring Kan so far. Ozawa, some experts noted, is among the least popular politicians in Japan.

“There is nobody people loathe more. He’s known for backroom-fixing politics; he’s last century’s man, and this is his last roll of the dice,” Jeff Kingston, Japan expert at the Tokyo-based Temple University, said as quoted by the Post.