Campaigning for the Liberal Democratic Party's presidential race officially kicked off Friday with three candidates vying for the task of rebuilding the party and returning it to power.
The three candidates, who come from different factions in the LDP, represent what is shaping up to be a generational battle of sorts. Ex-Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki, 64, is in the running, as is former Vice Justice Minister Taro Kono, 46, and Yasutoshi Nishimura, 46, a relative newcomer who just won his third term. The LDP is set to vote for its new president Sept. 28.
Tanigaki, a 10-term veteran, was the first to throw his hat in the ring and is steadily gathering support from other veteran and midlevel lawmakers.