First-Round Results: No Majority Winner, Runoff Declared
On October 4, Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) held its leadership election to determine the successor to the current party president—effectively choosing the country’s next Prime Minister. As of 14:20 JST, official sources report that no candidate secured a majority in the first round, prompting a runoff between the top two vote-getters.
Here are the official first-round results, according to Reuters, TBS News, and other credible outlets:
| Candidate | Votes |
|---|---|
| Sanae Takaichi | 183 |
| Shinjiro Koizumi | 164 |
| Yoshimasa Hayashi | 134 |
| Takayuki Kobayashi | 59 |
| Toshimitsu Motegi | 49 |
As a result, Sanae Takaichi and Shinjiro Koizumi will advance to the final runoff, which began at 2:00 PM JST. The final vote count is expected to be announced by 3:00 PM JST.
What Is the LDP Election and Why Does It Matter?
The LDP leadership election is a high-stakes event in Japanese politics. Since the LDP holds a majority in the National Diet (Japan’s legislature), its president almost always becomes Prime Minister.
The voting system is structured in two phases:
- First Round: 382 votes from LDP Diet members + 382 votes from local party chapters = 764 total
- Runoff (If No Majority): 382 votes from Diet members + 47 votes (one per prefecture)
Because no one won the 383-vote majority in the first round, the election moved to the second phase—a head-to-head vote between the top two candidates.
Why This Runoff Is Notable
The runoff between Takaichi, a conservative lawmaker backed by traditional party figures, and Koizumi, a high-profile reformist known for his broad public appeal, reflects deep generational and ideological divides within the LDP.
- Sanae Takaichi: Favored by conservative factions and some local chapters
- Shinjiro Koizumi: Popular with younger lawmakers and urban voters, running as an independent within the party
The outcome may shape Japan’s future domestic policies, defense posture, and international diplomacy, depending on who wins.
What We Know (and Don’t Know) So Far
Confirmed:
- Runoff is between Takaichi and Koizumi
- Voting started at 2:00 PM JST on October 4
- 382 Diet votes + 47 prefectural votes will decide the outcome
- Final results expected by ~3:00 PM JST
Not Yet Confirmed:
- Real-time tally of Diet member votes in the runoff
- Final preferences of key party factions
- Breakdown of the 47 prefectural votes (assigned locally)
Real-time updates are still coming in. The final result will determine Japan’s next leader—and could signal the direction of LDP politics for years to come.
