Who could become Japan's next prime minister?

As Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba faces declining support and internal conflicts within the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), potential successors are banking on forming study groups and chairing parliamentary leagues to regain traction ahead of July’s Upper House election. With the LDP struggling to maintain its dominance following faction dissolutions, low approval ratings, and concerns about losing key privileges if the election goes poorly, these efforts aim to counterbalance the party's declining influence and secure their own ambitions. The outcome of the election will likely determine whether such groups can successfully bolster their profile in a fragile political landscape.