A series of apparent setbacks in the political arena have not dented the aspirations of the Liberal Party to shake the foundations of the system, according to its maverick leader, Ichiro Ozawa.

The Liberal Party is campaigning for the June 25 election on a pledge to restore "the spirit and honor of the Japanese" and to create an open and independent Japan that has "freedom with a clear set of rules" and less bureaucratic control.

"The spirit and honor of the Japanese . . . That's the No. 1 issue," Ozawa said in an interview.