Naoto Kan, leader of the Democratic Party of Japan, denied Tuesday that his party plans to form a governing coalition with the Japanese Communist Party.
Kan added, however, that the largest opposition party would not rule out a non-Cabinet alliance or some other form of cooperation with the JCP.
"There will emerge room for considering (a coalition with the JCP) if the party changes its name and platform, possibly transforming itself into a party like the Social Democratic Party. . . . But since (the JCP) has not changed yet, we have no plans to form a governing coalition (with the party) at this point," Kan told a news conference in Kobe.