The attention of many political observers appears to be focused on when and how, rather than if, Ichiro Ozawa will step down as the leader of the No. 1 opposition Democratic Party of Japan before the next general election due to take place no later than September.
One influential party leader has been quoted as saying that 80 percent of DPJ lawmakers think Ozawa should step down in the aftermath of the arrest and indictment of his official secretary, while the remaining 20 percent favor his leading the party to an election victory.
Ozawa's secretary, Takanori Okubo, was arrested and indicted in March on charges of falsifying a report on political contributions to his boss — at a time when Ozawa appeared to have a fair chance of leading his party to an election victory and thus becoming the next prime minister.