TOKYO (REUTERS) - Japan's minister in charge of Covid-19 vaccines, Mr Taro Kono, led a public opinion poll on who should succeed Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga as head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

Mr Kono had 27 per cent support in the poll by Nikkei newspaper and TV Tokyo that asked who would be "the right person" to lead the party and become the next prime minister.

The results of the Sept 9 to 11 poll were released on Saturday (Sept 11).

Former LDP secretary-general Shigeru Ishiba was next with 17 per cent, and former policy chief Fumio Kishida was third with 14 per cent.

Former interior minister Sanae Takaichi was fifth with 7 per cent.

Mr Kono, who also serves as minister of administrative reform, announced his candidacy on Friday, the third to make his intention official after Mr Kishida and Ms Takaichi.

Mr Ishiba may not run for the party's leadership and instead will likely support another candidate, the Jiji news service said on Saturday, citing sources close to him.

Mr Suga, in a surprise move, said on Sept 3 that he would step down, marking an end to a one-year tenure marred by plunging public support and dissatisfaction with his coronavirus response.

That set the stage for a Sept 29 leadership vote among grassroots LDP members and lawmakers. The winner is virtually assured the premiership because the LDP has a majority in Parliament's Lower House.

Following the LDP leadership vote, Japan will likely hold a general election in the first half of November, Kyodo reported, citing ruling party lawmakers.

The Nikkei and TV Tokyo poll follows earlier ones showing strong public support for Mr Kono, 58, to succeed Mr Suga, 72.