Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike is expected to announce as early as Wednesday that she will seek a third term in the upcoming gubernatorial election, sources said Monday.
According to several sources, Koike is considering requesting an opportunity to speak on the final day of the ongoing Tokyo metropolitan assembly session on Wednesday. If the request is granted, the 71-year-old is expected to declare her candidacy for the July 7 gubernatorial poll.
She is expected to be backed by Tomin First no Kai (Tokyoites first group), a regional political party for which Koike serves as special adviser, as well as ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner, Komeito.