Group 1 - The Japanese Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has scheduled its presidential election for October 4, marking an active power struggle in the "post-Ishiba" era [2][4] - Candidates who participated in the previous presidential election are expected to be key players in this election, with the threshold for gathering 20 recommendations from party members raised [2][5] - The number of LDP members in the Diet has decreased, making it more challenging for candidates to secure the necessary recommendations [7][9] Group 2 - Former Economic Security Minister Takashi Saito and other potential candidates are likely to have a similar lineup in the 2025 presidential election as in 2024, given the short time frame [5] - The number of LDP members eligible to recommend candidates has dropped from 368 to 295, a reduction of about 70 members, complicating the process of gathering recommendations [7][9] - Candidates like Sanae Takaichi have seen the largest drop in potential recommendations, losing 9 supporters due to non-elected members, while others like Yoshihide Suga and Yoshihisa Inoue have also experienced declines [8][9] Group 3 - The political landscape for the LDP has changed significantly since the last presidential election, as the party is now a minority in both houses of the Diet [9] - To win the prime ministerial election, candidates must navigate the challenge of opposition parties not fielding a unified candidate [9] - There is a possibility that recommendations may shift among candidates as the election date approaches, with potential for previously secured recommendations to be redirected [9]