1. Agriculture Minister Koizumi Shinjiro has declared his intention to run for the leadership of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
- He met with supporters in Kanagawa Prefecture on Saturday and expressed a desire to move Japan's politics forward during challenging times.
- He is expected to officially announce his bid early next week.

2. Other LDP members who have announced their candidacy include former secretary-general Motegi Toshimitsu, economic security minister Kobayashi Takayuki, and lawmakers Takaichi Sanae and Hayashi Yoshimasa.
- They are refining their policies for their campaign ahead of the official campaigning start on September 22nd.

3. The largest opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, has emphasized the need for discussions between ruling and opposition parties to prevent a political vacuum from forming.