Japan's Digital Minister Kono intends to run in LDP leadership race

Digital Minister Taro Kono has informed a heavyweight of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party that he intends to run in its presidential race in September, aiming to become Japan's next prime minister, a source close to the matter said Thursday.Kono, known as an outspoken lawmaker, conveyed his intention to LDP Vice President Taro Aso, a former prime minister who heads an intraparty group that the minister belongs to, during a dinner meeting on Wednesday, the source said.Speaking to reporters about the matter on Thursday, Kono, a reform-minded maverick and social media-savvy member within th…READ FULL ARTICLE