Soka Gakkai, the nation's largest lay Buddhist organization and supporter of New Komeito, appeared to welcome on Wednesday New Komeito's move to form a coalition with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, sources said.

Tetsuzo Fuyushiba, secretary general of New Komeito, met with Isao Nozaki, deputy chairman of Soka Gakkai, in Tokyo to discuss basic policy matters.

Fuyushima briefed Nozaki on the latest talks with LDP officials about cooperating with the ruling party on a new electoral system for the House of Representatives and other matters, the sources said.