Ex-Miyazaki gov candidate drowns while swimming at beach

NAHA — A former candidate in the Miyazaki gubernatorial election drowned at a swimming beach in Nakijin, Okinawa Prefecture, his employer said Thursday. Tetsuji Mochinaga, 48, died while swimming with his 5-year-old son Wednesday morning, according to police. After retiring from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Mochinaga unsuccessfully filed candidacy for the House of Representatives election in 2003 and 2005 to succeed his father, a former lower house member. Last year, he lost to Hideo Higasikokubaru in the gubernatorial election. Mochinaga was working at the Japan Research... [read full story]