TOKYO (AP) — Japan is bracing for a possible leadership change in Tuesday's ruling party vote that pits the prime minister against a veteran lawmaker known as a backroom "shadow shogun."
Prime Minister Naoto Kan appears to have a slight edge over party kingpin Ichiro Ozawa ahead of the internal Democratic Party election.
The vote comes as the yen has surged to 15-year highs, hurting the country’s exporters. Tokyo is also embroiled in an escalating diplomatic spat with China over a ship collision near disputed islands just east of Taiwan.
If Ozawa wins, he would become the country’s third prime minister in a year.
