TOKYO - Japanese former environment minister Shinjiro Koizumi will announce his candidacy for the ruling party leadership race at a press conference on Aug. 30, broadcaster TBS reported on Friday.

Koizumi, the 43-year-old son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, will become the latest contender for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership election next month to replace Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

Kishida will step down as LDP chief in September, effectively ending a three-year term as leader of the world's fourth-largest economy given the LDP's dominance in parliament.

  - Reuters