Japan opposition party fields lesbian candidate

TOKYO, May 24 (Reuters) Japan's main opposition party is fielding an openly lesbian candidate for July's upper house elections, in an unprecedented move for the country's conservative political world.

The Democratic Party has endorsed 32-year-old Kanako Otsuji, a former local assemblywoman and outspoken campaigner for gay and other minority rights, as a candidate for the upcoming national poll, an official at her office said on Thursday.

''This is the first time a national political party has officially fielded an openly gay person,'' the official said.

Otsuji came out midway through her four years as a member of the local assembly in the western city of Osaka, writing a book about her experience and taking part in gay and lesbian rallies.

Her candidacy comes as Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party pushes a traditional values agenda under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who often speaks of his wish to create a ''Beautiful Japan.'' ''I am very grateful to the Democratic Party for giving me this chance,'' Otsuji said in a message on her Web site.

''In today's society, I think there is a tendency to put forward one set of values and make it seem as though that is the only beautiful or right way,'' she said. ''But the reality is becoming more diverse. Japanese society is not engaging with the wide range of people living in diverse ways, in terms of nationality, race, sex, age and disabilities.'' REUTERS SM KP1226