If Shinzo Abe resigns as Prime Minister of Japan, who are the potential successors?

According to the Zhitong Finance APP, following a disastrous defeat in the upper house elections last weekend that resulted in the ruling coalition losing its majority, it is widely speculated that the difficult situation of Japanese Prime Minister Shizuka Shimo's tenure may be entering its final days. Earlier reports suggested that Shimo planned to announce his resignation before the end of August, and it was mostly confirmed. However, according to the latest news, Shimo stated on Wednesday afternoon that the reports in the Japanese media about his resignation "have absolutely no factual basis". Shimo stated that he had just finished a meeting with the top advisors of the Liberal Democratic Party, Taro Aso, former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, and Fumio Kishida, and they "did not discuss the issue of staying or leaving". Shimo once again affirmed that he will remain in office and continue to govern.