Democratic Party of Japan leader Banri Kaieda lashed out Tuesday at Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, demanding that he publicly denounce the rise in racist rallies in Japan, especially amid concern overseas of possible ties between some Cabinet members and members of far-right and anti-Korean groups.

"I want you to state unequivocally that neither the government nor the prime minister supports such ethnic discrimination and distorted nationalism," Kaieda said in the Diet a day after Abe delivered a key policy speech.

"Tell us how you will regulate (it)," Kaieda demanded.