TOKYO, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Top Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) executives decided Thursday to support underdog Shinji Tarutoko, a relatively unknown lawmaker from Japan's ruling DPJ in his leadership race against Naoto Kan, the party's finance minister, who was thought to be a shoo-in for the DPJ's top post.
Lawmakers close to outgoing Secretary-General Ozawa decided to support Tarutoko's leadership run tomorrow following an executive meeting at which it was decided the DPJ needs to present itself in a new light and with a new "clean" image, sources close to the matter said, meaning it is possibly no longer a one-horse-race for the leadership.
Speaking in a nationally televised news conference Tarutoko reiterated his plans to stand as a candidate to succeed Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama who abruptly announced his intention to resign after eight months in office on Wednesday.
