Two new opposition parties emerged Thursday from the breakup of Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party).
The party's former Osaka group, led by Osaka mayor Toru Hashimoto, was set to become the larger of the two.
As of Thursday evening, 37 of Nippon Ishin's 62 Diet members said they would stay with Hashimoto, while 23 cast their lot with Ishihara. Two lawmakers said they would remain in the Diet as independents.
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