Former Morning Musume Ichii Sayaka running as a candidate for the Constitutional Democratic Party (Rikken-Minshuto)

Former Morning Musume (35) Ichii Sayaka is focusing on a career in politics.

Ichii was at Kyobashi Station in Osaka on July 3rd as a candidate for the Constitutional Democratic Party for the upper house (voting begins on July 21st).

Ichii was discussing to reform child care/child support.  Standing in the heavy rain, Ichii held a microphone and said, “I am a mother of four children.  There are few parties focused on the caring of children.  I am in a party that believes in raising children and I will do my best!”.

Ichii Sayaka is a parent to children ages 14, 12, 6 and 2.  Ichii said she came to Osaka to deliver a speech and returned back to Tokyo to take care of her children.

Ichii hopes to enter politics similar to singer Imai Eriko who was a member of all-female pop group, SPEED.  Imai is a member of the House of Councillors from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party