While many familiar faces, among them Kanagawa Gov. Shigefumi Matsuzawa, former Miyazaki Gov. Hideo Higashikokubaru and businessman Miki Watanabe, are likely to be seen in the April 10 Tokyo gubernatorial election, the capital's most prominent is expected to stand down.

Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara, 78, who has held the post for the past 12 years, is expected to announce Friday that he will not seek a fourth term.

Experts give Ishihara mixed marks for his career governing the 13 million people who live and work in Tokyo.