Former Finance Minister Kaoru Yosano tendered his resignation Thursday to Tachiagare Nippon (Sunrise Party of Japan), fueling speculation he will join the Democratic Party of Japan-led Cabinet being reshuffled Friday.
Yosano, 72, a fiscal hawk who cofounded the small opposition party last year, was a key figure last month in talks that failed to bring it into the DPJ fold. Tachiagare members snubbed the overture from the ruling bloc, which Yosano said was a reason for him to part ways.
Joining the coalition "would have been a step in pushing forward our policies," Yosano told reporters Thursday, adding he still feels "disappointed" with the decision reached by his Tachiagare colleagues.