Hiromu Nonaka, a Liberal Democratic Party heavyweight who has announced he is retiring from politics, said Tuesday in Tokyo he will devote his free time to helping the disadvantaged.
During a luncheon at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan, Nonaka said he plans to serve as president of several facilities for severely disabled people.
Nonaka also said he wants to tell younger generations about the tragedies of World War II so that the bitter memory of the war will not be forgotten.
Asked what his hobby is, Nonaka answered "politics." But his long political life will be over when the next general election of the House of Representatives comes around.
Last week, the 77-year-old veteran Lower House member announced his intention not to run in the next election, sending shock waves through his intraparty faction led by former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto.