Long viewed as content to live in the shadow of the entrenched Liberal Democratic Party, the largest opposition force is now ready to seize the reins of power and carry out a thorough reform of the public sector, Democratic Party of Japan Vice President Katsuya Okada said Friday.
On its surface a war cry to rally party members ahead of a widely expected general election, the comment by the DPJ's No. 2 also possibly hints at an ambition to aim for the top spot in the party's presidential election in September.
Speaking at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo, Okada said he believes there will be a general election by January, but added it could happen sooner if the new Cabinet Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda is expected to form runs into trouble and loses public support.