Farm minister Koizumi throws hat into race to lead ruling LDP: sources

Farm minister Shinjiro Koizumi intends to run in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election, sources close to him said Friday, in what is likely to be a race among five candidates to replace outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.Koizumi, who reportedly persuaded Ishiba to resign, has recently taken the spotlight with efforts to address surging rice prices in Japan. The 44-year-old son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi also ran in the LDP's leadership race last year.Former Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and former economic security minister Takayuki Kobayashi h…READ FULL ARTICLE