House of Representatives Speaker Nobutaka Machimura announced April 20 he will step down after recently suffering a light stroke and will be hospitalized for a complete checkup.
Speaking at a news conference after tendering his resignation to Vice Speaker Tatsuo Kawabata, Machimura, 70, said he did not want his illness "negatively affecting the job of speaker."
Former LDP Vice President Tadamori Oshima, 68, has been named to replace Machimura. (Kyodo)
町村信孝衆院議長は軽い脳梗塞を発症し、川端達夫副議長に議長辞任願を提出した。後任に自民党前副総裁の大島理森氏が選出された。
The Japan Times ST: May 1, 2015