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| Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara quits to form new party | Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara quits to form new party |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Tokyo's governor Shintaro Ishihara is resigning to form a new national political party, ahead of expected general elections in Japan. | Tokyo's governor Shintaro Ishihara is resigning to form a new national political party, ahead of expected general elections in Japan. |
| "As of today, I will resign as the Tokyo governor," he told reporters. | "As of today, I will resign as the Tokyo governor," he told reporters. |
| The 80-year-old, serving his fourth term as governor, is known for making provocative comments. | The 80-year-old, serving his fourth term as governor, is known for making provocative comments. |
| Earlier this year, he sparked off a row when he said he would use public money to buy a group of islands at the centre of a dispute between China and Japan. | Earlier this year, he sparked off a row when he said he would use public money to buy a group of islands at the centre of a dispute between China and Japan. |
| The novelist-turned-politician, who began his current term as governor only last April, said he wants to return to national politics. | |
| He said he would be founding a party with other right wing politicians to challenge the two dominant parties in polls that must be called by the end of next year. | |
| Mr Ishihara said he saw ''several contradictions, big contradictions'' in national politics. | |
| "One contradiction, bigger than anything, is the Japanese constitution, which was imposed by the (post World War II US) occupying army, and is rendered in ugly Japanese," he said. | |
| He is demanding the repeal of these pacifist clauses in Japan's constitution, which restricts the activities of the country's armed forces. | |
| The veteran politician is known for making controversial and nationalistic comments. |