The economic slowdown, Covid-19, Olympic postponement, balancing the US-China relationship are the major challenges that Abe's successor will face.

The Japanese economy is witnessing a historic slump.

Those are just immediate challenges for politicians vying to succeed Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who announced his resignation a year before the end of his term due to health reasons.

In the long run, Japan's next prime minister must fulfill Abe's unfinished promises: promote the role of women in politics and the workplace, and improve working conditions so that men can help their wives.

Japan is facing a labor shortage with a declining population and low birth rate, as well as difficulties in sending foreign workers to work.

Japan is also at risk of more natural disasters caused by climate change, having to deal with the risk of power shortages due to the shutdown of nuclear power plants after the Fukushima disaster, the threat of missiles.

"That makes me wonder who wants to be Japan's prime minister," said Jeffrey Hornung, an analyst at RAND Corporation.

But still many people want to take this position.

The LDP will announce on September 1 whether it will hold limited voting between parliamentarians and some provincial representatives, or open elections with all one million party members.

Those who have expressed their desire to become prime minister include former foreign minister Fumio Kishida, incumbent Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, incumbent Defense Minister Taro Kono, former defense minister Shigeru Ishiba, senator Seiko Noda and Tomomi.

Abe's successor will face many challenges without having the "stature" he has built during his record tenure of nearly eight years.

Basically, Japan remains the leading power in the region, but there are such "ingrained" problems that even Abe's long term is not enough to overcome.

Mr Abe's biggest regret is likely not being able to amend Japan's peace constitution to enhance the military's role.

In addition, Abe also regrets not completely resolving the sovereignty dispute over the Kuril / Chishima islands with Russia and the issue of Japanese citizens being kidnapped by North Korea decades ago.

The next most urgent priority for the Japanese prime minister will be to revive the economy devastated by Covid-19.

"This is a heavy burden before the new leader embarks on issues of structural and demographic change or other major Japanese issues," said Sheila A. Smith, expert from the Council on Foreign Relations.

However, the pandemic provides the opportunity for future leaders to push for social reforms that can address some of the more profound problems, including obstacles that make it difficult for married women to advance in their careers.

The government declared a state of emergency this spring and urged companies to allow employees to work from home, but the paper-based office culture in Japan has forced many people to still go to work.

Kathy Matsui, from the Goldman Sachs branch in Tokyo, said she hopes the future prime minister will propose a strong digital strategy and urge companies to adopt more advanced technology.

Technology that allows more people to work from home could also help women, said Barbara G. Holthus, deputy director of the Japan Research Institute in Tokyo.

While the two women, Ms. Noda and Ms. Inada, have expressed a desire to become prime minister, the possibility of Japan having a female prime minister is still quite remote.

On the international stage, one of the biggest concerns for Japan is whether the new prime minister can stay in power long enough to have a long-term agenda.

"Even in Washington, you can hear 'oh my God, we're going back to being a prime minister every year,'" said Mrs. Smith.

Thanks to his long-term tenure, Abe has had time to develop diplomatic relations, helping him to push Japan's allies into trade deals and security partnerships.

Takako Hikotani, associate professor of political science at Columbia University, said Abe's strength is that he is a familiar face at summits.

Abe has been actively building relationships with US President Donald Trump from the very beginning.

As the US presidential election is coming, the new Japanese leader will have to deftly handle relations with a longtime ally, which has recently withdrawn from leadership on the international arena.

Japan also has to balance the relationship between the US and China - a neighboring country with many economic ties.

But Japan is also increasingly concerned about Chinese actions in the South China Sea and East China Sea.

Analysts hope the new Japanese prime minister will also work to resolve tense relations with South Korea regarding women forced into sex slavery during World War II as well as recent trade conflicts.

The longer the Japan-Korea tensions persist, the "only winners will be China and North Korea, which benefit from the weak coalition of other countries in the region," said Lauren Richardson, professor of national relations.