* Kishida says lack of trickle-down benefits from Abenomics
* Sticks to 2% inflation target as "global standard"
* Conservative Takaichi joins race; would be first female PM
* Defends frequent visits to controversial Yasukuni Shrine
* Eyes on chance of popular vaccine minister Kono running (Adds Takaichi quotes)
By Tetsushi Kajimoto, Daniel Leussink and Kiyoshi Takenaka
TOKYO, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Japan should strive for a new form of capitalism to reduce income disparity that has worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, Fumio Kishida, who hopes to become the next prime minister, said on Wednesday.
Kishida, a former foreign minister, presented his economic policies as part of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership race, which started last week after Yoshihide Suga said he would step down. The winner is assured of becoming Japan's next premier.
Former internal minister Sanae Takaichi joined Kishida in the contest, unveiling a conservative platform, while popular coronavirus vaccination minister Taro Kono met party heavyweights as he weighs his chances.
If Takaichi, 60, manages to overcome long odds, she would become Japan's first female leader.
Kishida said deregulation during the reform era in the early 2000s widened the gap between the haves and have-nots and that former prime minister Shinzo Abe's "Abenomics", which sought to fix tattered finances by achieving high growth and boosting tax revenues, did not result in benefits trickling down.
"Without distribution of wealth there won't be a rise in consumption and demand...there won't be further growth if distribution of wealth is lost," Kishida said at a Tokyo presentation on Wednesday.
"There's no doubt Abenomics has brought a major achievement on growth but in terms of distribution of wealth, trickle-down has not yet happened."
Kishida repeated a call for an economic stimulus package and reiterated his support for the Bank of Japan's 2% inflation target as "a global standard".
Kishida also called for setting up a 10 trillion yen ($90 billion) university fund to stimulate science and promotion of renewable energy, while retaining nuclear power technology, which he said should be considered as a clean energy option.
TAKAICHI JOINS THE RACE
Takaichi launched her challenge on policies to strengthen security and help boost the COVID-battered economy.
She became the first female internal affairs minister in the second Abe administration in 2014, and local media said he supported her bid, helping her obtain the 20 lawmaker backers she will need to formally enter the contest.