The Economic Security Minister Sanae TAKAICHI, The former Economic Security Minister Takayuki KOBAYASHI, The Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa HAYASHI, The former Environment Minister Shinjiro KOIZUMI, The Foreign Minister Yoko KAMIKAWA, The former Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu KATO, The Digital Minister Taro KONO, The former Secretary-General Shigeru ISHIBA, and The Secretary-General Toshimitsu MOTEGI, one of the nine candidates for the Japan Liberal Democratic Party presidential election, speaks to the media during a joint press conference at the LDP's headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, on September 13, 2024. ( The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images )