SDP Leader Mataichi to have surgery for lung cancer

May 7, 2019

Tokyo--Seiji Mataichi, lead of Japan's opposition Social Democratic Party, said Tuesday he will undergo surgery on May 14 for lung cancer detected in late April.

SDP Secretary-General Mizuho Fukushima will assume Mataichi's duties during his recovery from the operation, expected to take four weeks.

Mataichi had surgery for gastric cancer in 2015.

On whether he will seek reelection to the House of Councillors in the triennial election to be held this summer, Mataichii, 74, said, "It's the party that will decide if I should run." Jiji Press