Miyazaki Gov. Hideo Higashikokubaru said Friday he regretted the political turmoil that resulted from his wavering over whether to accept the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's offer to put his name on its ticket for the Aug. 30 Lower House election.
Speaking at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward, Higashikokubaru recounted the uproar that resulted when he told the LDP he would run only on condition that the party consider him a candidate for the next prime minister, if it won the poll.
Higashikokubaru's response drew harsh criticism from within the LDP as well as from the public, eventually prompting him to announce he would not run for a Diet seat, at least for now.