This combo photo shows the contenders who are likely to be in the race to succeed Japan Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. From left, clockwise, are Taro Kono, administrative reform minister; Fumio Kishida, former foreign minister; Shigeru Ishiba, ex-defense minister; Shinzo Abe, former prime minister; LDP policy chief Hakubun Shimomura; Seiko Noda, ex-internal affairs minister; and Sanae Takaichi, another former internal affairs minister. (PHOTOS / AFP)

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s surprise decision to effectively step down as premier by dropping out from a party leadership vote throws the gates open for a race to succeed him.

Suga had no known successor lined up but under his nearly year-long term as premier, Taro Kono has emerged as one of the most prominent members of his cabinet. Kono plans to run in the race to replace Suga, broadcaster TBS reported Friday. Kono, currently running the country’s vaccine rollout, has served previously as foreign minister and defense minister.  

So far, former foreign minister Fumio Kishida is the only declared candidate for the leadership race in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party 

So far, former foreign minister Fumio Kishida is the only declared candidate for the leadership race in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. 

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Here is a list of people who may be next in line to lead the world’s third-largest economy.

Taro Kono, 58, administrative reform minister

Kono, fluent in English, has been a favorite among the public and business leaders to take over the top spot. He has advocated cuts in health and social security spending, which has ballooned as the population ages. 

He has already started to collect endorsements from party members as he looks to take over leadership of the LDP, TBS reported without attribution. Kono is a member of the LDP faction led by Finance Minister Taro Aso, and would expect the bloc to offer its support if he runs.

Kono is also the country’s most-followed politician on Twitter and has found broad appeal with the younger generation, boosted by attacks on antiquated practices such as the custom of hand-stamping official documents. 

The son and grandson of high-profile LDP politicians, Kono attended the private Suffield Academy boarding school in Connecticut before entering Georgetown University. Kono is a member of the LDP faction led by Finance Minister Taro Aso and has expressed an interest in becoming prime minister.

Fumio Kishida, 64, former foreign minister

Kishida, 64, this week said he wanted to spend tens of trillions of yen to soften the economic fallout from the pandemic and to have people cooperate with restrictions on their movements, which are intended to slow the spread of the virus. Announcing his candidacy Tuesday, Kishida said he would keep bold fiscal and monetary policy during the COVID-19 crisis, but seek fiscal balance in a few years, when things have returned to normal.

READ MORE: Japan PM's rival Kishida urges coronavirus stimulus package

A self-effacing former banker, Kishida lost to Suga in last year’s party leadership election. In 2015, Kishida sealed a landmark deal with South Korea that was meant to end a dispute over women trafficked in brothels run by the Japanese military during World War II. That agreement fell apart after the election of South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who argued that the two governments didn’t sufficiently consult the victims.

Shigeru Ishiba, 64, former defense minister

Ishiba, a former defense minister, is often picked as one of the most popular choices for next prime minister in media polls. He ran against Suga a year ago but did not declare his candidacy this time around. 

He has backed economic policies seen as more populist than Suga and called for reinvigorating domestic demand, particularly in the regions, to spur growth rather than relying on foreign trade. On the international front, Ishiba has shown a conciliatory attitude toward China and expressed caution about changing the country’s pacifist constitution to clarify the military’s legal standing.

ALSO READ: Japan's Suga faces challengers in ruling party leadership race

Dark horses

Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who stepped down a year ago because of health reasons, has been floated as a possibility to come back. But there seems to be little appetite in the party or public for him to come back.

Ex-Internal Affairs Minister Sanae Takaichi has also said she wants to run and be the first woman to serve as prime minister. But she has little support in the party.

Seiko Noda, another former internal affairs minister, plans to run, according to broadcaster NTV, but she faces many of the same challenges as Takaichi.

LDP policy chief Hakubun Shimomura, who stepped aside when it looked like Suga was the strong favorite, may also revive his plans to run.