TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s former health minister and a candidate for the ruling party’s leadership Katsunobu Kato on Tuesday called for a stimulus package to boost domestic investment and finance spending to revive regional economies.

“Japan is on the verge of emerging from deflation. We should not stop this drive but accelerate it” with a focus on doubling household income and boosting capital spending, Kato said at a press conference announcing his intention to run in the Liberal Democratic Party leadership race on September 27.