The Liberal Democratic Party plans to field Yasushi Akashi, former U.N. undersecretary general, as its candidate for the Tokyo gubernatorial race, LDP sources said Wednesday.

The LDP's Tokyo chapter had earlier pushed for fielding Koji Kakizawa, a Lower House member and former foreign minister, as the LDP candidate for the high-profile race, but party leaders eventually favored Akashi, 68, because he can also expect support from New Komeito.

Kakizawa later told a meeting of his Tokyo colleagues that he will not run for the gubernatorial race.