The Liberal Democratic Party's factional interests appear to have put former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto into pole position in the race to find a successor to Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori.
Hashimoto came under the spotlight after LDP power broker Hiromu Nonaka reportedly said Tuesday night that the LDP's largest faction, headed by Hashimoto, should unite behind its leader for the party race later this month, which will effectively determine the next prime minister.
Nonaka, who was once considered Mori's most likely replacement, also belongs to the Hashimoto faction.