Yasushi Akashi, a former U.N. undersecretary general, strongly indicated Thursday that he will run as the Liberal Democratic Party's candidate for the Tokyo gubernatorial election in April.
LDP Secretary General Yoshiro Mori and Executive Council Chairman Takashi Fukaya met with Akashi at a Tokyo hotel to officially ask him to run on the LDP ticket.
Akashi, 68, said he appreciated the request and would seriously consider it but will wait a day or two to make a final decision.