Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Azuma Koshiishi on Thursday said he was eager to restore former leader Ichiro Ozawa's party membership following his acquittal in a drawn-out funds scandal.

The acquittal is "not surprising," the close Ozawa ally told reporters, adding that he will initiate procedures in the party to do so after the Golden Week holidays end early next month.

The move will allow Ozawa to run in the DPJ's presidential election in September, posing a challenge to Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, and the sales tax hike Noda is pushing.