Tokyo Gov. Koike to launch own national party: local media

TOKYO, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike on Monday announced her intention to launch her own national political party, according to local media reports.

The news comes following Koike's Tomin First no Kai (Tokyoites First party) sweeping victory in the Tokyo metropolitan assembly race in July seeing off challenges from other parties including the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

This assembly race is widely regarded as a barometer for the future direction of national politics and triggered rumors that Koike was eyeing a return to national politics.