Former Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara declared his candidacy Tuesday for next week's Democratic Party of Japan presidential election to pick the successor to Prime Minister Naoto Kan, who meanwhile spent the day bidding a premature farewell to his Cabinet.
"We have to change the government to give the people hope and a sense of security for the future," Maehara told a meeting of lawmakers who support him.
"Let me take the lead in creating a new Japan that can encourage the disaster-hit districts with your cooperation," he said.