Tokyo, Sept. 21 -- Japan's Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced on Saturday that he will run in next month's leadership election for Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), promising to strengthen the national economy and revitalise the party following its disappointing showing in recent polls, Kyodo News reported.

The forty-four-year-old son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said he aims to broaden the current ruling coalition and address concerns surrounding foreign tourists and foreign residents. Shinjiro Koizumi is the fifth, and likely the last, LDP lawmaker to formally declare their candidacy for the October 4 leadership contest, which will select the successor to outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, a...