Shigeru Ishiba reveals his feelings about being called a candidate for the next prime minister.

As the new year begins, there is no sign that the Kishida administration will emerge. This is because, while the Kishida administration continues to put major issues on hold, such as foreign affairs and the former Unification Church issue, new negative factors have erupted one after another, including a domino of resignations by cabinet ministers and the debate over tax hikes to increase defense spending.

The G7 summit to be held in May in Hiroshima, the hometown of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (65), is supposed to be a big event, but many are wondering whether the administration will be able to manage until the summit.

However, many are wondering whether the administration will be able to maintain power until the G7 summit. With the death of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, former LDP kingmaker Taro Aso (82) and former Secretary General Toshihiro Nikai (83) have been deep in contemplation as to who will be the next leader of the LDP.

Will it be “mainstream” Secretary General Toshimitsu Mogi (67), former Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide (74), or former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi (41), who has been “highly tapped? While many names have been mentioned, there is one man who is still an unmissable presence in the party, despite being decried as “the man who has finished the job. He is Shigeru Ishiba, 65, former defense minister.

He has experience as secretary-general and is known as a debater on the pressing issues of defense and agriculture and forestry, and he enjoys strong support among the party members. Above all, he has long been ranked in opinion polls as a candidate for the next LDP president, and he enjoys a deep-rooted popularity among the public. Although he was defeated by former Prime Minister Abe in the last two LDP presidential elections, he still has a chance to rise to the top,” said Koichi Kakutani, a political journalist.

What are his “true intentions”? When we called Mr. Ishiba and asked him about his thoughts on becoming prime minister, he laughed it off.

No one knows what the future holds. Who could have predicted the Russian invasion of Ukraine at the beginning of 2010?　I appreciate that you say so, but becoming prime minister is a means, not an end. If people think that I am aiming to be the prime minister, please give me a break. I don’t know if I am the right person (to be prime minister), but I will try to study every day.

Since his decision not to run for the presidency in 2009, his opportunities to make public appearances have declined. How does he feel about the fact that his name is still being mentioned by the public despite his decision not to run for the presidency?

I wonder why the voices of support haven’t disappeared. I wonder what this is all about. I have always thought that I should be honest about things that are painful for the people. I wonder if that has gradually been conveyed to the public. However, that is our job. If you don’t do that, you should quit (being a politician).”

Ishiba did not deny the possibility of running for LDP president next September. The LDP’s foremost “one-word politician” may soon make his move.