Japan's ruling party holds one of the most unpredictable leadership contests in decades on Friday, a race that could result in Japan's youngest or first female premier, or see a popular veteran succeed in his fifth and final leadership bid.

Japan’s ruling party on Friday named former defense minister Shigeru Ishiba as the next prime minister, according to media reports on Friday, including the Associated Press. Shigeru Ishiba will be sworn in as Japan’s 102nd Prime Minister by the Diet on October 1,

Japan ’s former defence minister, Shigeru Ishiba, has won the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) presidential election at his fifth and final attempt, defeating economic security minister Sanae Takaichi in a runoff vote.