Prime Minister Naoto Kan's calls to the opposition camp for cross-party talks on tax and social security reform appeared to fall on deaf ears as New Komeito remained adamant Friday on demanding that he step down.
"Calls from the public are increasing, and what the public is honestly saying is that they can't entrust you with the job of being the country's prime minister," New Komeito chief Natsuo Yamaguchi said during a plenary session of the opposition-dominated Upper House.
Kan attended question-and-answer sessions in both Diet chambers from Wednesday through Friday in connection with his policy speech earlier in the week.