Staff writer

Lawmakers who formerly belonged to the defunct Komeito party, which was backed by Soka Gakkai, the nation's largest lay Buddhist organization, will reunite today after four years of political realignment.

New Komei, which will be formed through the merging of Shinto Heiwa (New Peace Party) and Komei, will become the second-largest opposition party in the Diet, with nearly 66 legislators in the two chambers, which have a total of 752 seats.