The opposition-leading Liberal Democratic Party held its annual convention Sunday, promising party reform and victory in the July Upper House election while assailing the ruling Democratic Party of Japan over recent money scandals dogging Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa.
But despite all the chest-thumping, reform in the LDP appears to be at a standstill as the once-ruling party scrambles to offer the public a fresh image.
"We need to think over the meaning of that general election," said LDP President Sadakazu Tanigaki in his New Year address, referring to the devastating election in August that ousted it from power.