Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) is moving forward with plans not only to field candidates nationwide in this summer's Upper House election but also run against Kansai politicians who oppose its efforts to create a new regional system.
"We're making preparations to field candidates (for the Upper House election) in all 47 prefectures. But we've said Hyogo Prefecture is one prefecture in which we need to establish ourselves quickly," Nippon Ishin Secretary General and Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui said.
The Hyogo branch will be established by the end of March. Hideto Shinbara, 50, will head the chapter, while Kei Miki, 46, has been appointed its secretary general and Mio Sugita, 45, the policy chief. All three are Nippon Ishin proportional representatives in the Lower House.