Lower House member and former Miyazaki Gov. Hideo Higashikokubaru said Wednesday he has left Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) and will quit as a Diet member, raising speculation that he might try to run for governor of Tokyo or seek his old job in Miyazaki.
"I just submitted my letter of departure from Nippon Ishin no Kai to the secretary general of the party's Diet group, Yorihisa Matsuno," Higashikokubaru told reporters Wednesday night at the Diet.
He said he will take the procedures for leaving the Diet after the party formally accepts his exit.