Teruaki Masumoto

Masumoto, 48, is the younger brother of Rumiko Masumoto. North Korea has admitted to having kidnapped her but has said that she later died.

Speaking at a news conference, Masumoto said that his distrust of the government and the Diet led to his decision to run in the election.

"The abduction issue will not be resolved by merely lobbying the government and politicians," Masumoto said. "The ones who were agonized by the abductions, which are a violation of (our nation's) sovereignty, need to get serious and change Japan's politics."

Although a native of Kumamoto Prefecture, Matsumoto said he plans to run in a Tokyo constituency.

The Japan Times Weekly: June 12, 2004
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