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Japan opposition party decides to dissolve

OSAKA, Japan - Shintaro Ishihara, one of the two co-heads of the Japan Restoration Party, is projected on a screen via video link at an extraordinary party meeting held in Osaka on June 22, 2014. The opposition party decided at the meeting to dissolve with its two co-leaders, Ishihara, former Tokyo governor, and Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, set to lead separate parties.

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Japan opposition party decides to dissolve

OSAKA, Japan - Shintaro Ishihara, one of the two co-heads of the Japan Restoration Party, is projected on a screen via video link at an extraordinary party meeting held in Osaka on June 22, 2014. The opposition party decided at the meeting to dissolve with its two co-leaders, Ishihara, former Tokyo governor, and Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, set to lead separate parties.

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Japan opposition party decides to dissolve

OSAKA, Japan - Toru Hashimoto, one of the two co-heads of the Japan Restoration Party, speaks at an extraordinary party meeting in Osaka on June 22, 2014. The opposition party decided at the meeting to dissolve with its two co-leaders, former Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara and Hashimoto, Osaka mayor, set to lead separate parties.

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Japan opposition party decides to dissolve

OSAKA, Japan - Toru Hashimoto, one of the two co-heads of the Japan Restoration Party, speaks at an extraordinary party meeting in Osaka on June 22, 2014. The opposition party decided at the meeting to dissolve with its two co-leaders, former Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara and Hashimoto, Osaka mayor, set to lead separate parties.

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IOC evaluation commission members arrive in Japan

NARITA, Japan - Nawal El Moutawakel (L), head of the Evaluation Commission of the International Olympic Committee, is greeted by Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara as she arrives at a hotel in Tokyo on April 4. Earlier in the day, members of the evaluation commission arrived in Japan to conduct an on-site inspection in connection with Tokyo's bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

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Baseball great Oh to support Tokyo's 2016 Olympic bid

TOKYO, Japan - Legendary home run king Sadaharu Oh (L) and Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara shake hands during a signing ceremony for an annual youth baseball tournament in Tokyo on April 10. Oh pledged to lend his support for Tokyo's bid to host the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics.

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Ex-Diet member Ishihara at press conference

TOKYO, Japan - Former Diet member Shintaro Ishihara answers a question during a press conference at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Dec. 16, 2014, two days after failing to retain his seat in the House of Representatives election and retiring from politics.

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Ex-Diet member lawmaker Ishihara at press conference

TOKYO, Japan - Former Diet member Shintaro Ishihara smiles during a press conference at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Dec. 16, 2014, two days after failing to retain his seat in the House of Representatives election and retiring from politics.

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Ishihara to quit politics if unsuccessful in lower house election

NAGANO, Japan - Shintaro Ishihara, supreme adviser of the opposition Party for Future Generations and former Tokyo governor, speaks in Nagano, central Japan, on Dec. 5, 2014. The 82-year-old Ishihara said he will retire from politics if he is unsuccessful in the Dec. 14 lower house election.

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Party for Future Generations established

TOKYO, Japan - Former Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara (R) and former trade minister Takeo Hiranuma show Aug. 1, 2014, a nameboard of the Party for Future Generations, a new political party, in Tokyo. Hiranuma is to head, and Ishihara is to serve as the top adviser of the party.

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Ishihara donates 3,200 books to Zushi library

TOKYO, Japan - Shintaro Ishihara, co-leader of the Japan Restoration Party, holds one of the books he wrote in front of shelves storing books he has donated to the Zushi City Library in Zushi, Kanagawa Prefecture, on July 8, 2014. Ishihara donated some 3,200 books.

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Ishihara's group announces name of new party

TOKYO, Japan - Shintaro Ishihara (2nd from R, back row) and his breakaway group of politicians raise their fists after announcing the name of a new party to be launched in August is Jisedai no To, meaning "party for the next generation," at a press conference in Tokyo on June 26, 2014.

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Ishihara unveils name of new party

TOKYO, Japan - Shintaro Ishihara (standing) announces Jisedai no To, meaning "party for the next generation," as the name of a new political party to be launched in August, during a press conference in Tokyo on June 26, 2014.

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Politicians Ishihara, Inoki shake hands

TOKYO, Japan - Shintaro Ishihara (R), co-leader of the Japan Restoration Party, and Antonio Inoki, a House of Councillors member, shake hands in Tokyo on June 5, 2014. The opposition party has decided to break into two and Inoki decided to join Ishihara's group.

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Ex-Tokyo Gov. Ishihara to launch new party in late July

TOKYO, Japan - Former Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara (4th from R, front row) and fellow lawmakers pose for photos in Tokyo on June 4, 2014, before launching a panel to prepare for the establishment of a new political party. Ishihara will step down as co-leader of the opposition Japan Restoration Party.

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Ex-Tokyo Gov. Ishihara to launch new party in late July

TOKYO, Japan - Former Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara holds a press conference in Tokyo on June 4, 2014, before launching a panel to prepare for the establishment of a new political party. Ishihara will step down as co-leader of the opposition Japan Restoration Party.

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Japan Restoration Party to split up

TOKYO, Japan - Combination photos taken on May 29, 2014, show Japan Restoration Party co-leaders Toru Hashimoto (L) in Osaka and Shintaro Ishihara in Tokyo. The opposition party will split up as Ishihara said he will form a new party aiming at revising Japan's Constitution.

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Japan Restoration Party's co-heads agree to break up

NAGOYA, Japan - Toru Hashimoto, one of the two co-heads of the Japan Restoration Party, heads for a hotel in Nagoya, central Japan, on May 28, 2014, after talks with the party's other leader Shintaro Ishihara. The two leaders agreed to agreed to break the party into two separate units.

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Japan Restoration Party's co-heads agree to break up

NAGOYA, Japan - Shintaro Ishihara, one of the two co-heads of the Japan Restoration Party, walks through JR Nagoya Station in Nagoya, central Japan, on May 28, 2014, after talks with the party's other leader Toru Hashimoto. The two leaders agreed to break the party into two separate units.

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Shintaro Ishihara

TOKYO, Japan - Shintaro Ishihara, co-leader of the opposition Japan Restoration Party, gives a lecture in Tokyo on March 26, 2014.

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JRP co-head Ishihara speaks at party's energy research panel

TOKYO, Japan - Shintaro Ishihara, co-leader of the Japan Restoration Party, speaks at the party's energy research panel meeting in Tokyo on March 6, 2014.

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Tokyo gubernatorial election

TOKYO, Japan - Tokyo gubernatorial election candidate Toshio Tamogami (R), a former Air Self-Defense Force chief, shake hands with former Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara in the Shibuya area of the Japanese capital after official campaigning began on Jan. 23, 2014, for the Feb. 9 election.

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Tokyo gubernatorial candidate

TOKYO, Japan - Former Air Self-Defense Force chief Toshio Tamogami (L) shakes hands with former Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara during a press conference in Tokyo on Jan. 7, 2014, after Tamogami announced his candidacy in the Feb. 9 Tokyo gubernatorial election. Ishihara, now a House of Representatives lawmaker, attended the press conference to express his "personal" support for Tamogami.

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Upper house election in Japan

TOKYO, Japan - Former Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara, co-leader of the Japan Restoration Party, makes a stump speech in Tokyo's Yurakucho district on July 4, 2013, the day official campaigning started for the July 21 upper house election that will be a key test of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's leadership over the past seven months.

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Tokyo assembly election

TOKYO, Japan - Hiroshi Yamada, head of the Tokyo chapter of the Japan Restoration Party, places a rose ornament above the name of the party's second successful candidate in the Tokyo metropolitan assembly election in Tokyo on June 23, 2013. The party, co-headed by former Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara and Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, saw the number of its assembly members decrease to two from three.

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Ex-wrestler Inoki to run in upper house election

TOKYO, Japan - Former Japanese wrestling star Antonio Inoki (R) and Shintaro Ishihara, co-head of the Japan Restoration Party, hold a press conference in Tokyo on June 5, 2013. Inoki, 70, formally announced that he will run in the upcoming upper house election for the opposition party, also led by Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto.

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Ex-wrestler Inoki to run in upper house election

TOKYO, Japan - Former Japanese wrestling star Antonio Inoki (R) and Shintaro Ishihara, co-head of the Japan Restoration Party, let out a morale-boosting shout during a press conference in Tokyo on June 5, 2013. Inoki, 70, formally announced that he will run in the upcoming upper house election for the opposition party, also led by Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto.

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Ex-wrestler Inoki to run in upper house election

TOKYO, Japan - Former Japanese wrestling star Antonio Inoki (R) and Shintaro Ishihara, co-head of the Japan Restoration Party, hold a press conference in Tokyo on June 5, 2013. Inoki, 70, formally announced that he will run in the upcoming upper house election for the opposition party, also led by Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto.

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Hashimoto's controversial remarks on 'comfort women'

TOKYO, Japan - Shintaro Ishihara (R) and Takeo Hiranuma, lawmakers from the opposition Japan Restoration Party, attend a plenary session of the House of Representatives in the Diet in Tokyo on May 14, 2013. Ishihara, the former Tokyo governor who co-heads the party with Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, defended the same day Hashimoto's controversial remarks on wartime sexual servitude by women, saying that "Any military is commonly associated with prostitution and that is like a principle of history."

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Tokyo Gov. Inose

TOKYO, Japan - New Tokyo Gov. Naoki Inose receives a bouquet as he assumes office at the Tokyo metropolitan government building on Dec. 18, 2012, succeeding Shintaro Ishihara.

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Tokyo Gov. Inose

TOKYO, Japan - New Tokyo Gov. Naoki Inose receives a bouquet as he assumes office at the Tokyo metropolitan government building on Dec. 18, 2012, succeeding Shintaro Ishihara.

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Japan general election

TOKYO, Japan - Former Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara, head of the Japan Restoration Party, is pictured at a Tokyo hotel while appearing on a radio program on the results of the House of Representatives election on Dec. 16, 2012. The Japan Restoration Party won 54 seats in the election, up from 11 before the election, while Ishihara himself was also elected.

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Japan general election

TOKYO, Japan - Former Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara (R), head of the Japan Restoration Party, celebrates the news of his win in the general election in Tokyo on Dec. 16, 2012.

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Japan general election eve

TOKYO, Japan - Former Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara, head of the Japan Restoration Party, waves at voters after making a stump speech in Tokyo's Meguro Ward on Dec. 15, 2012, on the eve of the general election.

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Japan general election

TOKYO, Japan - Combination photo shows (top column, from R to L) Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, president of the Democratic Party of Japan, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, president of the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party, Yukiko Kada, head of the Tomorrow Party of Japan, Natsuo Yamaguchi, head of the New Komeito party, (center column, from R to L) former Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara, head of the Japan Restoration Party, Kazuo Shii, head of the Japanese Communist Party, Yoshimi Watanabe, head of Your Party, Mizuho Fukushima, head of the Social Democratic Party, (bottom column, from R to L) Kenko Matsuki, acting leader of the New Party Daichi, Shozaburo Jimi, head of the People's New Party, Yasuo Tanaka, head of the New Party Nippon, and Yoichi Masuzoe, head of the New Renaissance Party, while making stump speeches at various locations across the country on Dec. 4, 2012, as official campaigning kicked off the same day for the Dec. 16 general election.

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Japan general election

OSAKA, Japan - Former Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara, head of the Japan Restoration Party, makes a stump speech in Osaka on Dec. 4, 2012, after official campaigning kicked off for the Dec. 16, 2012, general election.

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Japan general election

OSAKA, Japan - Former Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara, head of the Japan Restoration Party, makes a stump speech in Osaka on Dec. 4, 2012, after official campaigning kicked off for the Dec. 16, 2012, general election.

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Japan general election

OSAKA, Japan - Former Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara, head of the Japan Restoration Party, makes a stump speech in Osaka on Dec. 4, 2012, after official campaigning kicked off for the Dec. 16, 2012, general election.

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Japan general election

TOKYO, Japan - Leaders of Japan's major political parties join hands before a debate at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Nov. 30, 2012, ahead of the Dec. 16, 2012, general election. From L are Shozaburo Jimi of the People's New Party, Mizuho Fukushima of the Social Democratic Party, Kazuo Shii of the Japanese Communist Party, Natsuo Yamaguchi of the New Komeito party, Shinzo Abe of the Liberal Democratic Party, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda of the Democratic Party of Japan, Yukiko Kada of Nippon Mirai no To (Japan Future Party), Shintaro Ishihara of the Japan Restoration Party, Yoshimi Watanabe of Your Party, Muneo Suzuki of the New Party Daichi and Yoichi Masuzoe of the New Renaissance Party.

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Japan general election

TOKYO, Japan - Leaders of some of Japan's major political parties join hands before a debate at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Nov. 30, 2012, ahead of the Dec. 16, 2012, general election. From L are Natsuo Yamaguchi of the New Komeito party, Shinzo Abe of the Liberal Democratic Party, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda of the Democratic Party of Japan, Yukiko Kada of Nippon Mirai no To (Japan Future Party), Shintaro Ishihara of the Japan Restoration Party and Yoshimi Watanabe of Your Party.

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Japan general election

TOKYO, Japan - Former Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara (L) and Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto hold a press conference in Tokyo on Nov. 29, 2012, as they announced election pledges for their party, the Japan Restoration Party, ahead of the Dec. 16, 2012, general election.

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Nagoya mayor

NAGOYA, Japan - Nagoya Mayor Takashi Kawamura attends the city assembly in Nagoya on Nov. 21, 2012. Kawamura said that his small opposition party has given up a plan to merge with another fledgling party led by former Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara and Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto.

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Ishihara proposes Japan conduct nuclear simulation

TOKYO, Japan - Former Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara delivers a speech at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo on Nov. 20, 2012. Ishihara, a longtime China critic and head of the Japan Restoration Party, proposed during the speech that Japan conduct a nuclear simulation for deterrence.

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Ishihara proposes Japan conduct nuclear simulation

TOKYO, Japan - Former Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara delivers a speech at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo on Nov. 20, 2012. Ishihara, a longtime China critic and head of the Japan Restoration Party, proposed during the speech that Japan conduct a nuclear simulation for deterrence.

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2 Japan parties to merge

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto (R) and former Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara hold a press conference in Osaka on Nov. 17, 2012. They said Hashimoto's Japan Restoration Party and Ishihara's Sunrise Party will be merged ahead of the Dec. 16, 2012, general election to counter major ruling and opposition parties.

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2 Japan parties to merge

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto (R) and former Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara hold a press conference in Osaka on Nov. 17, 2012. They said Hashimoto's Japan Restoration Party and Ishihara's Sunrise Party will be merged ahead of the Dec. 16, 2012, general election to counter major ruling and opposition parties.

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2 Japan parties to merge

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto (L) and former Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara shake hands in Osaka on Nov. 17, 2012. They said Hashimoto's Japan Restoration Party and Ishihara's Sunrise Party will be merged ahead of the Dec. 16, 2012, general election to counter major ruling and opposition parties.

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Ishihara, Hashimoto hold talks before election

TOKYO, Japan - Former Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara, leader of the Sunrise Party, is surrounded by reporters in Tokyo on Nov. 16, 2012, after holding talks with Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, head of the Japan Restoration Party, to advance negotiations toward joining forces ahead of the general election on Dec. 16.

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Tokyo gubernatorial election

TOKYO, Japan - Former lawmaker Takashi Sasagawa holds a press conference in Tokyo on Nov. 13, 2012, to declare his candidacy for the Dec. 16, 2012, Tokyo gubernatorial election, following Shintaro Ishihara's resignation from the post.

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Ishihara launches new party

TOKYO, Japan - Former Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara (R) holds a press conference in Tokyo on Nov. 13, 2012, at which he launched a new party, called the Sunrise Party. The party is headed jointly by Ishihara and former industry minister Takeo Hiranuma (L).