TOKYO -- A long-serving opposition lawmaker backed by Toyota Motor's labor union will not run in Japan's lower house election on Oct. 31, a decision that comes as the auto industry considers its relationship with the government in an era of stricter environmental restrictions.
Shinichiro Furumoto, who represented Aichi Prefecture's 11th district for 18 years over six consecutive terms, posted on Twitter on Thursday that he "struggled over how to achieve policy goals instead of engaging in interparty strife."
