The leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Fumio Kishida, has won the leadership election, putting him on track to become the country’s next prime minister. Mr. Kishida will succeed Yoshihide Suga, who resigned after only one year in office. As Prime Minister, his priority of business will be to lead the LDP to victory in the 2019 general election. As a result of being obliged to hold the Tokyo Olympics despite public resistance, the party’s popularity plummeted. Former Foreign Minister Kishida defeated Taro Kono, widely regarded as the most popular candidate. The new prime minister will have a slew of challenges, including recovering from the pandemic’s economic impact and dealing with North Korean threats. He believes that a resolution condemning China’s treatment of the Uyghur minority should be issued, and that a “health crisis management agency” should be established to cope with the pandemic. Mr. Kishida said after winning, “My skill is to truly listen to people.” “I’m committed to collaborating with everyone to build an open LDP and a successful Japan.”