MATSUE, Shimane Pref. — Veteran Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Mikio Aoki, once one of the most powerful figures in politics, has told executives of the party's Shimane prefectural chapter that he does not intend to run in the prefectural district of the Upper House election this summer after suffering a mild stroke, a senior chapter member said Saturday.
Another senior member suggested that Aoki is likely to retire from politics, saying it is "impossible" for the former head of the LDP Upper House caucus to enter the proportional representation portion of the election.
The 75-year-old House of Councilors member was hospitalized Thursday in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, after saying he was not feeling well during a meeting earlier that day, the members said. While he is conscious and can talk, he sometimes has difficulty speaking, according to the chapter members.