With the kickoff of the Dec. 16 Lower House election campaign just one day away, Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) is in chaos after party leader Shintaro Ishihara declared Friday that he would revise a promise to abolish nuclear power by the 2030s.
The former Tokyo governor's declaration is adding to a growing sense in and outside the party that the decision to merge with Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto's party was a mistake.
At a debate involving 11 party leaders Friday, Ishihara surprised everyone when he said he would revise its promise to phase out nuclear power.