Hands Up, Who Wants to Lead Japan? - Wall Street Journal (blog)

Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesFrom left to right: Katsuya Okada, Seiji Maehara, Yosihiko Noda and Yukio Edano.

It’s that time of the year in Japan: who wants to be prime minister?

If all goes according to plan, in a week’s time the governing Democratic Party of Japan will stage the now near-annual ritual of its leadership contest, effectively selecting the county’s leader. But a new poll indicates a tricky time ahead for the wannabes in contention for party leader is off to a shaky start: None of those officially in the running to succeed Prime Minister Naoto Kan, finally closing in on the end of his own longer-than-expected run, are among the public’s top picks.

Former foreign minister Seiji Maehara was the most popular politician among potential candidates to succeed Mr. Kan, garnering support from 28% of respondents surveyed in a weekend poll by Kyodo News. Chief government spokesman Yukio Edano and ruling Democratic Party of Japan secretary general Katsuya Okada followed with 11% and 10.9%, respectively. Too bad none of the men have yet said they will take up the challenge. The DPJ is expected to elect a new party president on Aug. 29.

Mr. Maehara at least is considered a strong “maybe” contender. As more candidates officially raise their hand, others, most notably Mr. Maehara, have stayed on the sidelines likely to see how the slate will recast votes among intra-party groups. Loyalty lines are most clearly drawn between those who support backroom dealer Ichiro Ozawa, the veteran power behind the throne, and those in Mr. Kan’s camp. While Mr. Maehara is expected to make his decision within days, and could yet toss his hat in the ring, Mr. Edano and Mr. Okada are likely to sit this race out.

Meanwhile, Yoshihiko Noda, current finance minister and often tipped among politicos as the likeliest success to Mr. Kan, captured just 4.8% of survey support. Weepy economy minister Banri Kaieda snuggled in behind with 4.7%.

A hodge-podge of at least six relatively lesser-known DPJ lawmakers are currently set to run, including former transportation minister Sumio Mabuchi.

The survey was conducted by telephone on Saturday and Sunday and included responses from 1,016 eligible voters.

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