2011-08-19 13:57

TOKYO - Japan's Industry Minister Banri Kaieda said Friday that he will run in the upcoming Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) leadership race to choose a successor to Prime Minister Naoto Kan.

Kaieda told reporters that he has been making arrangements to file in his candidacy for the race, which is going to elect Japan's next prime minister as DPJ controls the more powerful lower house in the Diet.

Kaieda, 62, who has played a pivotal role in the country's nuclear policy, said Japan's next leader should have the ability to "bring together" the ruling party which has been plagued with infighting.

Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda, 54, and former transport minister Sumio Mabuchi, 50, have already voiced their intention to run in the election, while former foreign minister Seiji Maehara has reemerged as another potential candidate to succeed Kan.

The election is expected to be held at the end of August.