The ruling Democratic Party of Japan announced Monday it will field women's judo superstar Ryoko Tani for the proportional representation segment of the summer Upper House election.
Speaking to reporters at DPJ headquarters in the afternoon, the former two-time Olympic gold medalist said that while she intends to still pursue her judo career, she is willing to use her long years of experience as a top-class athlete to "build a nation everyone desires."
"I'd like to give it all my best, with enough love to envelop the Earth," Tani said, while also vowing to win another gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.