Ex-Tokyo governor creates new party

A former governor of Tokyo said Tuesday his new political party will push for a new constitution and the doubling of Japan's defense forces. Shintaro Ishihara declared the planks in announcing the creation of his new political party, to challenge the ruling and opposition parties in next year's elections, Kyodo News reported. Elections for the House of Representatives must be held by next summer, and Shintaro told a news conference at a Tokyo hotel he wanted his new party to be a "third force" against the ruling Democratic Party of Japan and the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party. The 80-year-old Shintaro and Takeo Hiranuma will lead the party, Taiyo no To, or Party of the Sun, The Mainichi reported. All five members of Hiranuma's conservative Sunrise Party of Japan will be incorporated into Party of the Sun. The party also proposes spending huge amounts of tax money to restore areas severely affected by 2011's earthquake and tsunami.