Hashimoto wants to form another political party

OSAKA - Toru Hashimoto, a chief member of Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) who acts as its joint representative while also serving as the mayor of Osaka, stated he would again form a new political party after merging or collaborating with another small party "Your Party," along with some members of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ).

The aim would be to gather enough strength to challenge the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in the next House of Councillors election to be held this summer, local press said on Tuesday.

Hashimoto told reporters Monday that it would be the best choice for Japan's future if the country could establish a new political force against the LDP through collaboration between members of Nippon Ishin no Kai and Your Party as well as some from the DPJ. He added that he would not mind discarding the party's original name, Nippon Ishin no Kai, to achieve that goal.

The daily Yomiuri Shimbun pointed out that Hashimoto made this sudden statement because the opposition parties had to compete with each other in last month's Lower House election, which resulted in a landslide victory for the LDP.

Hashimoto apparently hopes that the new political party he envisages will get enough seats in the Diet to be a "second force" after the LDP and its coalition partner New Komei Party, thus taking over the current role of the DPJ, the report added.

In the meantime, local media said because of Hashimoto's ambitious plan, fierce competition to take the political initiative in national politics between Nippon Ishin no Kai and Your Party is expected to further heat up ahead of the next Upper House election.

On Tuesday, meanwhile, Ichiro Matsui, secretary general of Nippon Ishin no Kai and Osaka Governor, said that the party should adjust the number of candidates it nominates so as not to overlap with those from Your Party in constituencies that elect between one and three Diet members. He added that the party should avoid the risk of candidates from the two parties making similar pledges and competing with each other in the same constituency.