After months of wrangling, Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) and Yui no To (Unity Party) finally launched a new political entity on Sunday, aiming to accelerate the realignment of the opposition camp to challenge the ruling coalition.
The newly merged party, named Ishin no To (Japan Innovation Party), is co-headed by Osaka Mayor and former Nippon Ishin co-leader Toru Hashimoto and Yui no To chief Kenji Eda.
With 52 Diet members, 41 in the House of Representatives and 11 in the House of Councilors, it will be the second-largest opposition group in the lower chamber after the Democratic Party of Japan.
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