Shiga Gov. Yukiko Kada is considering founding a new political party with the key goal of phasing out nuclear power, sources said Monday.
Although Kada didn't make it official when she met the press in Otsu in the afternoon, her reported move to create a new party ahead of the Dec. 16 Lower House poll quickly drew attention from other small parties that aren't fitting into the major "third force" that has been evolving around Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) led by ex-Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara and Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto.
Ichiro Ozawa, the ex-Democratic Party of Japan kingmaker who now heads Kokumin no Seikatsu ga Daiichi (People's Life First), is reportedly trying to sound out Kada about forming a new force by merging his party and other small forces that oppose restarting any reactors and are against the sales tax hike and Japan's participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade accord.