The struggling Social Democratic Party formally approved at a national convention Saturday the appointment of top party officials, including Mizuho Fukushima as party president.

However, the small opposition party suffered yet another setback earlier the day, with former policy affairs chief Masako Owaki submitting a letter of resignation from the party.

But senior leaders put on a brave face and emphasized their determination to rebuild the SDP by emphasizing its desire to protect the war-renouncing Constitution and strengthen networks at the grassroots level.