Shintaro Ishihara, Tokyo's former governor and the outspoken new president of Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party), will run in the capital's proportional representation block in next month's general election, the party's founder, Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, announced Sunday.
Appearing on a TV program, Hashimoto said Ishihara, who merged his Taiyo no To (The Sunrise Party) group with Ishin no Kai on Saturday to create a third force in the nation's politics, does not plan to seek election to the House of Representatives by running in any single-seat constituency.
Hashimoto also told reporters Sunday in Osaka that Nippon Ishin no Kai plans to field at least 241 candidates in the 480-seat Lower House election Dec. 16, adding Ishihara will travel "across the country" to drum up support among voters. On Saturday, Ishihara was appointed party president, while Hashimoto will now serve as deputy leader.