SDP secretary general Mataichi to take 1 month leave to treat cancer

SDP secretary general Mataichi to take 1 month leave to treat cancer

Photo shows Seiji Mataichi, secretary general of the Social Democratic Party, who announced on Oct. 8, 2015, that he has been diagnosed with stomach cancer and will take one month's leave for treatment. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Japan upper house election campaign

Japan upper house election campaign

Social Democratic Party leader Seiji Mataichi raises his fist in Himi, Toyama Prefecture, central Japan, on July 14, 2019, during campaigning for the July 21 House of Councillors election. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Japan opposition parties agree on unified by-election candidates

Japan opposition parties agree on unified by-election candidates

Denny Tamaki (L), Yoshihiko Noda (2nd from L) and Seiji Mataichi (R), secretaries general of the People's Life Party, Democratic Party and Social Democratic Party, respectively, and Akira Koike, head of the Japanese Communist Party's Secretariat, meet in Tokyo on Oct. 5, 2016. The four opposition parties agreed to field unified candidates, from the Democratic Party, for House of Representatives by-elections in Tokyo and Fukuoka on Oct. 23. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

4 Japan opposition parties meet ahead of Diet session

4 Japan opposition parties meet ahead of Diet session

Representatives of four Japanese opposition parties -- People's Life Party co-leader Ichiro Ozawa (L), Democratic Party chief Renho (2nd from L), Japanese Communist Party head Kazuo Shii (3rd from R) and Social Democratic Party Secretary General Seiji Mataichi (2nd from R) -- meet in Tokyo on Sept. 23, 2016, three days before the start of an extraordinary parliamentary session. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo