Japan vaccine czar Taro Kono declares bid to succeed PM Suga

Kyodo -- Sep 11

Japan's vaccination minister Taro Kono walked the line between his signature reform-minded policies and the conservatism of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Friday as he formally announced his bid to succeed Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.

The 58-year-old Kono is the third lawmaker to declare candidacy in the LDP's leadership race on Sept. 29 after former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and former communications minister Sanae Takaichi.