Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited Yamanashi Prefecture on Saturday, kicking off his nationwide campaign tour in preparation for his ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s leadership race, expected to take place in September.
Kishida met with officials from the LDP’s Yamanashi branch at a hotel in the prefectural capital Kofu. During the meeting, Kishida vowed to restore confidence in the LDP after the scandal over the party’s political funds, participants said. He did not talk about the party’s presidential elections.
In the city of Hokuto, Kishida visited a company working on smart agriculture using advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence. He also visited a manufacturer of semiconductor components in Nirasaki.
As part of the tour on Monday, a visit to Ishikawa Prefecture is scheduled. This region was hit hard by a 7.6 magnitude earthquake on January 1.
Votes from rank-and-file LDP members are crucial to the party’s presidential elections. Kishida aims to boost his public approval ratings, which are at record low levels, by highlighting his achievements and new policies during the tour.
However, Kishida’s efforts to improve his political fortunes are facing challenges.
Former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has essentially called on Kishida to resign, while former LDP Secretary General Shigeru Ishiba and Digital Transformation Minister Taro Kono are expected to challenge Kishida in the party race.
