TOKYO -- Despite belonging to the most mainstream political party in Japan and coming from a family of politicians, Taro Kono has long been viewed as a lone wolf in Japanese politics. His aloofness has always been why no one would have ever taken his prime ministerial ambitions seriously till a few years ago.
"It's important to focus on the work I have to do first," said Kono, choosing his words carefully in a news program last month when asked whether he would support Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga in the upcoming presidential election of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
