The special election to pick the successor to Naoki Inose as Tokyo governor will be held Feb. 9, the metropolitan election board announced Wednesday, while speculation continued over potential candidates.
Potential names swirling in the rumor mill include former health minister Yoichi Masuzoe, ex-Lower House member Hideo Higashikokubaru and even former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.
The Public Offices Election Law states that a gubernatorial election must be held no later than 50 days after a prefectural assembly president informs the election board of a governor's resignation. Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly President Toshiaki Yoshino notified the board of Inose's resignation Tuesday morning.