Farm minister Koizumi joins LDP leadership race, focuses on Japan economy

Farm minister Shinjiro Koizumi said Saturday he will run in the presidential election of the Liberal Democratic Party next month, pledging to boost Japan's economy and revitalize the ruling party after its poor performance in recent national elections.The 44-year-old son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said he is willing to expand the current ruling bloc, while promising to deal with perceived issues related to foreign tourists and residents.Koizumi became the fifth, and likely final, LDP lawmaker to officially announce their candidacy for the party's leadership election on Oct. …READ FULL ARTICLE