The race to become the next leader of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party - and therefore the country's next prime minister - formally kicked off on Friday.
Four candidates are running the campaign - two men and two women. It's the first time that the LDP elections have seen an equal gender split.
Phoebe Amoroso reports from Tokyo.
IN: "Lawmaker Seiko Noda..."
OUT: SOC
DUR: 36 secs
CLIP: http://fsnradionews.com/feeds/0917-ldp-camapign-begins.mp3