Candidates in Japan race call for stronger economy, security

By MARI YAMAGUCHI
Associated Press

TOKYO (AP) — One of the main candidates to be Japan’s next prime minister says the country needs a new type of capitalism to address income and social gaps caused by the pandemic. Former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida says deregulation and structural reforms strengthened Japan’s economy and promoted growth, but created disparity that worsened in the pandemic. Sanae Takaichi, a conservative former interior minister, was second to announce her candidacy, seeking to become Japan’s first female leader. Taro Kono, the Cabinet minister in charge of vaccinations, has also expressed interest and is expected to run. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced last week that he won’t seek another term.