Nobuyasu Nikai, the third son of powerful former Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Toshihiro Nikai, announced Friday he would follow in his father’s footsteps by running in the next Lower House election — a decision with larger implications for the LDP.
“I’ve received more than 40 requests to run for office from various organizations in Wakayama Prefecture. This morning, I met with the president of the Wakayama Prefectural association of towns and villages and said that I’d decided to run,” Nobuyasu told reporters Friday afternoon.
He said the decision was a difficult one, due to his father’s involvement in the political funds scandal and added that he hasn't changed his mind that he should have assumed some responsibility, as he's serving as his father’s secretary.