Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will elect a new president on Saturday, a role that typically ascends to prime minister. Five contenders are competing to succeed Shigeru Ishiba, who is stepping down following electoral setbacks. The race is led by Sanae Takaichi and Shinjiro Koizumi, whose platforms diverge sharply. Takaichi, a conservative nationalist aligned with the late Shinzo Abe, pledges bold fiscal stimulus to “jolt the economy” and may push to revise the U.S.-Japan trade deal if deemed inequitable. Koizumi, along with Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi and other candidates, supports household tax relief while preserving Ishiba’s cautious economic stance. Takaichi envisions doubling Japan’s economy within a decade through sweeping state investment in tech, infrastructure, and food security. Whoever wins will face a fractured party, tepid growth, and the diplomatic spotlight of hosting U.S. President Trump in Tokyo at the end of October.