The Tokyo branch of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party won't choose its candidate for the July 31 gubernatorial race until after the July 10 Upper House election, chapter head Nobuteru Ishihara said Tuesday.

Ishihara, also the Cabinet minister for fiscal and economic policy, met with former Defense Minister Yuriko Koike and notified her of the policy at the party's headquarters, Koike told reporters.

Koike, 63, has repeatedly asked the Tokyo chapter to endorse her as the LDP's candidate.