Osaka mayor announces intention to resign, calling for early election
Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, who is also co-leader of the opposition Japan Restoration Party, said Monday that he will resign and run for early mayoral election to gain further public support for his political plan of creating a so-called Osaka Metropolitan Government through the merger of prefectural and municipal governments.
He made the official statement in a press conference, held at a public hall in central Osaka in the afternoon.