Japan's leadership race kicked off Thursday with a record nine candidates including the surfing son of a former prime minister and an arch-nationalist vying to be the first woman premier.
Whoever wins the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership vote on September 27 will succeed unpopular Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, whose three-year term was tarnished by scandals and unease over rising prices.
The contest comes as Japan beefs up defence spending and cooperation with fellow US allies to counter China and as the spluttering world-number-four economy struggles with a slow-burn demographic crisis.
The conservative LDP has governed almost uninterrupted for decades and holds a majority in parliament, meaning the winner is essentially guaranteed to become premier.
Leading the polls are Shinjiro Koizumi, 43, a former environment minister and the son of Junichiro Koizumi, and veteran former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba, 67.
Also in the running are two prominent women -- still a rarity in Japanese politics and business.
Hard-right economic security minister Sanae Takaichi, 63, regularly visits Tokyo's Yasukuni war shrine, which will likely infuriate China and South Korea if she wins.
And although her support within the party is limited, sitting foreign minister Yoko Kamikawa, 71, is seen as a deft leader who aspires to mentor younger female politicians.
Outspoken reformist Taro Kono, 61, is also a candidate, as is Toshimitsu Motegi, dubbed the "Trump whisperer" for his handling of the former US president in tough trade talks.
Others include chief cabinet secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi and former economic security minister Takayuki Kobayashi, the only other candidate under 50 along with Koizumi.
Displayed outside its party headquarters on Thursday was a large poster reading "The Match" with black-and-white photos of previous leaders.
Snap polls predicted - Speculation is rife in local media that the winner will call a snap election for as soon as late October or early November.
The main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party is also in the midst of its own leadership contest.
The LDP race is seen as the most open in years, with Kishida having pushed many of the party's powerful factions to disband following a damaging slush fund scandal.
"A healthy degree of policy debate has been taking place as the LDP seeks renewal," said analyst James Brady from consultancy firm Teneo.
"Most candidates are making generous spending promises, while some oppose planned tax hikes," he wrote in a note.
Koizumi is proposing labour market deregulation and help for workers to acquire skills.
Meanwhile Ishiba has focused on helping rural economies hit by biting depopulation, also pledging to create a government agency specialised in dealing with natural disasters.
LDP presidents are in office for three years and can serve up to three straight terms.
The opinion polls are only a rough guide since only LDP lawmakers and regional party representatives have a vote following a series of public debates among the candidates.
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