Former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has launched a new group within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, apparently hoping to maintain his influence as current Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba leads a minority government.

The Kishida-led group, which aims to promote asset management in the country, held its inaugural meeting at the Diet building on Friday, attended by some 20 LDP lawmakers including former LDP Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi, as well as LDP Election Strategy Committee chief Seiji Kihara and others who belonged to a now-disbanded LDP faction that was led by Kishida.

Touting achievements of his three years at the helm of the government, Kishida said in a speech at the meeting, "We have begun to see encouraging signs of a new economic phase, including the highest wage increases in 33 years."