Tsuyoshi Takagi, head of UI Zensen Domei, filed his candidacy Wednesday for president of the 6.6 million-strong Japanese Trade Union Confederation (Rengo) in a bid to become its fifth leader.
Takagi, 61, is expected to be elected head of the country's largest labor organization Oct. 6, the second day of the confederation's annual convention. He would be replacing Kiyoshi Sasamori, who has held the post since 2001.
Momoyo Kamo, 56, chairwoman of the Japan Community Union Federation, also announced she is running for the presidency, but Takagi is apparently taking the lead because he is being backed by a Rengo panel on recommendations of executives.
Tadayoshi Kusano, 61, Rengo secretariat head, gave up his candidacy for the presidency Tuesday, according to sources close to him.
Nobuaki Koga, 53, who heads the Japanese Electrical Electronic & Information Union, will become Rengo's next chief of secretariat because no other person had filed a candidacy by the noon deadline Wednesday.