Democratic Party of Japan heavyweight Ichiro Ozawa has fired a broadside at Prime Minister Naoto Kan that is widely being viewed as a call to resign over the government's handling of the mega-quake and nuke plant crisis.
Ozawa's attack, issued in a document to close aides that was leaked to the press, indicates that many members of the ruling party are still loyal to Ozawa and could join the chorus of calls criticizing the prime minister to cater to frustrated voters.
Ozawa also plans to set up a one-on-one meeting with Kan, where the DPJ don will make his demands known, his aides said.