In a rare move, the Liberal Democratic Party's campaign pledges for the upcoming House of Councilors election will feature criticism of the decentralization efforts of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, according to party sources.

The pledges will also include a statement that the party will work toward allowing Japan to exercise its right to collective defense.

Although Japan is entitled to this right under international law, the government currently interprets the war-renouncing Constitution as banning the country from exercising it.