Shiga Gov. Yukiko Kada said Wednesday her new party, once made official, will pledge to phase out nuclear power within 10 years, aiming to make energy a key issue in the Dec. 16 election.
"We'll abolish nuclear power plants as soon as possible. My proposal is we'll do so by 2022," said Kada, who plans to field around 100 candidates in the poll.
Kada suggested her Nippon Mirai no To (Japan Future Party), which has agreed to merge with the party headed by Ichiro Ozawa and his 48 Lower House members, as well as other small parties, will promise to immediately shut down the Monju prototype fast-breeder reactor.