Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto and Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui, founders of Ishin no To (Japan Innovation Party), said Thursday they will leave the party to concentrate on local politics in Osaka, a move that is likely to considerably — if not critically — weaken the second largest opposition force.
Ishin has so far avoided seeing many Osaka-based lawmakers follow suit by exiting the party, as Hashimoto urged them to stay by sending a message by email to the party's Diet members.
The party has been deeply split between its Osaka-based members who are willing to cooperate with the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and Tokyo-based members who are trying to remain in the opposition camp in the hopes it will help them survive the next election.