Drawing on his Korean heritage, Shinkun Haku hopes to enter Japan's political world by pledging to help bring about a more united Asia.
"My dream is to eventually create an Asian economic zone or community, like the European Union, by strengthening Japan's ties with other Asian countries," said Haku, a Democratic Party of Japan candidate in Sunday's House of Councilors election.
"There are many problems that must be solved for that, but I want Asia to be more organized, such as by having a single currency," said the former head of the Japan bureau of the South Korean daily Chosun Ilbo.