Japan's Noda, former gender equality minister, joins PM race

[TOKYO] Seiko Noda, a Japanese former minister for gender equality, announced on Thursday she is running to replace Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and become the nation's first female leader.

Ms Noda, considered a long shot, has been a consistent voice urging Japan to address its declining birthrate and fast-ageing population, while advocating women's empowerment.

"I would like to create a politics for the next Japan so women, children, the elderly and disabled people who have not been leading actors, can feel life is worth living in this society," Ms Noda, 61, told reporters.

A critic of conservative former prime minister Shinzo Abe, Ms Noda wanted to challenge him for the leadership of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in 2015 but fell short of the 20 backers needed to run. This time, she cleared the line the day before official registration.

The LDP president becomes Japan's prime minister because of the party's majority in the Lower House of Parliament.

Ms Noda joined a flurry of campaigning among senior figures in the party. Former foreign minister Fumio Kishida and former internal affairs minister Sanae Takaichi are also running in the Sept 29 election for LDP president.

In her 30s, Ms Noda became Japan's youngest post-war Cabinet minister, later holding various Cabinet posts, including internal affairs minister.

REUTERS