Photo/Illutration Shinji Ishimaru speaks at a news conference in Tokyo’s Minato Ward on Jan. 15. (Masaaki Kobayashi)

Shinji Ishimaru, the surprise runner-up in the Tokyo gubernatorial election last July, said on Jan. 15 he has established a regional political party called Saisei no Michi (rebirth path.)

At a news conference in the capital, the 42-year-old former mayor of Akitakata in Hiroshima Prefecture said his party plans to field candidates in the Tokyo metropolitan assembly election expected in summer.

“Japan needs a change so that it can be reborn,” Ishimaru said.

He added that he would “encourage broad participation in politics by the people.”

Regarding the policies of Saisei no Michi, Ishimaru only said: “I will not present our policies here. I will leave them to each candidate’s good judgment and decision.”

In the Tokyo governor’s race last year, Ishimaru, running as an independent, gained support largely through videos and messages posted online, in which he criticized traditional political parties.

Although he lost to incumbent Yuriko Koike, he gained about 1.66 million votes, well ahead of Renho, a former Upper House member who was expected to give Koike a tough battle.

Tokyo metropolitan assembly elections cover 42 districts. Seven are each represented by one assembly member, while two to eight members are elected for each of the 35 remaining districts.

Ishimaru plans to field candidates in all districts and expects multiple candidates from the party to run in the larger districts.

He also said he would limit the elected party members’ tenure in the assembly to two four-year terms.

Ishimaru said he himself will not run for an assembly position but will support Saisei no Michi as its representative.

He also did not rule out another attempt to win the Tokyo governor’s post.

“Running for governor is a strong option, but I don’t think it is the only choice,” he said.

Ishimaru plans to select candidates by this spring through a three-stage process involving screening applications, an aptitude test, and an interview.

Video footage of the interviews will be available for view on the internet.

Ishimaru said the purpose of Saisei no Michi is to develop human resources as politicians and to increase the number of local government leaders from among those who have served in the Tokyo metropolitan assembly.

Of the current 124 Tokyo assembly members, 30 belong to the Liberal Democratic Party, 27 are with Koike’s Tomin First no Kai (Tokyoites First), and 23 belong to Komeito.

The incumbents’ terms will expire on July 22. The date for the next election has not been set.

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