There are budding moves to reorganize the fragmented opposition camp to create a new force that can stand up to the giant ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Liberal Democratic Party.
With the ruling coalition dominating both chambers of the Diet and all other parties trailing far behind, regrouping the opposition camp may be the only way forward to provide voters with a viable alternative to the LDP-New Komeito alliance.
The opposition realignment should not aim for an alliance just for the sake of one without a coherent policy agenda. Another new party would have little chance of winning voter support unless it shows it can deliver what the current ruling parties cannot.