Japan’s ruling party begins race to pick prime minister Yoshihide Suga's successor

The four candidates each submitted their official candidacy at party headquarters ahead of a series of joint public debate sessions and other campaigning planned over the next 12 days

Seiko Noda - one of the potential candidates. Picture: Pool/AP

The race is on to see who will be the next Japanese prime minister.

Official election campaigning kicked off on Friday to find the new head of Japan’s governing Liberal Democratic Party, a role that typically signals the next national leader.