Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly heavyweight Shigeru Uchida, a former secretary-general of the ruling liberal Democratic Party’s Tokyo chapter, said Saturday he<\/b>
Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly heavyweight Shigeru Uchida, a former secretary-general of the ruling liberal Democratic Party\u2019s Tokyo chapter, said Saturday he will not seek re-election when his current term ends in summer, citing age and health concerns.
The 77-year-old Uchida, who is said to also have had clout in national politics and often clashed with Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike, told reporters he will not run in the next assembly election in July.
\u201cI was worried whether I would be able to serve as an assembly member for the next four years,\u201d he said, adding he made the decision around the end of 2015.
Uchida has expressed his intention to quit as head of the LDP Chiyoda Ward branch after a newcomer candidate with the party\u2019s backing lost the Chiyoda mayoral election earlier this month to the incumbent, who was backed by Koike.
But he also suggested that wouldn\u2019t entirely retire from politics.
\u201cI\u2019ve been nurtured by the LDP. I want to contribute to the party as long as my physical condition allows,\u201d he said.
Commenting on Uchida\u2019s retirement, Koike told reporters it was a sign.
\u201cI think many people are feeling that there is a new momentum pushing in to the Tokyo assembly,\u201d the governor said.
Uchida, who once served as chair of the Tokyo assembly, was first elected in 1989. He is currently in his seventh term.<\/p>\n