Ultraman KYODO PHOTO

Yoshihiko Fukuda, a Liberal Democratic Party member of the House of Representatives, announced Jan. 5 that he will run for mayor of Iwakuni next month at the request of local legislators and businesses supporting a plan to relocate a U.S. fighter jet wing to the city in Yamaguchi Prefecture.

The election, scheduled for Feb. 10, is being held to fill the vacancy left by Mayor Katsusuke Ihara, 57, who resigned Dec. 28 after the municipal assembly voted down his budget plan. Ihara's plan was designed to make up for the government's decision to cut its subsidy to the city because Ihara opposed the military relocation plan.

Ihara has said he will run in the election.