The race has begun to succeed Japanese leader Shigeru Ishiba, who stepped after several party setbacks at the polls

The race has begun to succeed Japanese leader Shigeru Ishiba, who stepped after several party setbacks at the polls

 TORU HANAI

A former top diplomat dubbed the "Trump Whisperer" was the first candidate Monday to join the race to be Japan's next leader, a day after premier Shigeru Ishiba announced his resignation.

Former foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi is angling to lead the world's fourth-largest economy as it faces fresh turbulence stemming from rising food prices and fallout from US tariffs on its crucial auto sector.

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