Japan's opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will be choosing a new leader to take on Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda. Polls show the race, which comes ahead of national elections Noda must call by next August, will be closely contested by former defense chief Shigeru Ishiba, Nobuteru Ishihara and former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. "The fight is between Ishiba and Abe," said Jeff Kingston of Temple University, Japan Campus. "The LDP is trying to figure out strategically which makes more sense."