Taku Yamasaki> Former Liberal Democratic Party policy affairs chief Taku Yamasaki, 62, decided to run in the Sept. 21 LDP presidential election for the sake of presenting active policy debates to the public and gaining more support, especially among unaffiliated voters, for his party.
If the LDP wants to gain greater public support and dominate the next Lower House general elections, which must be held no later than October 2000, it is indispensable for the party to present a clear vision for the future of Japan, he says.
Yamasaki, a veteran Lower House lawmaker elected nine times, has served in a series of key Cabinet posts, including Defense Agency chief, construction minister and deputy chief Cabinet secretary.