Ichiro Ozawa's Shinshinto, the largest opposition party, is facing a major crisis in the wake of its defeat in the recent Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election.

Shinshinto's most disappointing election since its establishment in December 1994 has helped fuel dissatisfaction among some members over Ozawa's leadership and the management of the party. Kiyoshi Ueda, who resigned from the party July 14 with two other members, openly criticized its leadership, saying "What is lacking in Shinshinto is self-examination or reflection when it fails at something."

Some members who have left the party are also critical of Ozawa's behind-the-scene moves to seek a conservative alliance with some members of the Liberal Democratic Party. They say they joined the party to create an opposition force strong enough to replace the ruling LDP.

Since the general election of October 1996, the party has lost many key members, including former prime ministers Tsutomu Hata and Morihiro Hosokawa. Hata left the party in December 1996 with 12 other members and created a new party, Taiyoto. Last month, Hosokawa walked away from the party to "break the deadlock in the nation's politics." Hosokawa's departure has prompted other members from the now defunct Japan New Party, which Hosokawa founded, to also consider leaving Shinshinto.

Since the end of the regular Diet session in June, eight members have left or have decided to leave the party. If those who have decided to leave the party but whose departure has not yet been accepted by the leadership are included, the number of Shinshinto members in the Lower House stands at 132, down from 156 following the Lower House election in October 1996.