In a surprising move, Tokyo Gov. Yukio Aoshima announced Monday that he will not seek a second four-year term in the April 11 gubernatorial election.
"I have done all I had to do. I have nothing to regret or feel ashamed of. I want to do my best at my present job until my term expires," Aoshima, 66, told a Tokyo press conference. "I have been struggling to fulfill the wish of 1.7 million voters who supported me (in the 1995 election) and I think I did meet their expectations," said Aoshima, a former TV script writer and Upper House member who won the 1995 election with a landslide victory.
Aoshima's announcement that he is not seeking a second term has thrown the Tokyo gubernatorial election wide open.