The Liberal Democratic Party's presidential race kicked into gear Thursday as four big names officially filed their candidacies, supported by their policies to lift the economy out of its rut.
Former Health Minister Junichiro Koizumi, former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, LDP policy chief Shizuka Kamei and Taro Aso, minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy, officially signed up for the election that will effectively select Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori's successor.
With the campaign debates likely to focus on economic policies, the four appear to be divided over whether economic recovery should be placed ahead of fiscal consolidation.