SENDAI -- A Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker elected from Miyagi Prefecture announced Thursday that he will resign to take responsibility for illegal distribution of gifts to voters.
Itsunori Onodera, 39, from the Miyagi No. 6 district, will soon tender his resignation to Lower House President Soichiro Ito. Once Ito authorizes the resignation, a by-election will be held to fill the vacancy within 40 days after the local election committee is notified of the decision.
Onodera is the second lawmaker from the Miyagi No. 6 district to resign over an election-related scandal in just over two years.