Aichi Gov. Hideaki Omura formally announced Monday that he will set up a regional political group to pursue decentralization of power and other changes with an eye on fielding candidates in the next general election.

The move is the latest in a wave of new parties sprouting up under populist local leaders seeking to challenge the central government.

"I want to change Japan through cooperation between the three major metropolises — Tokyo, Aichi and Osaka," Omura said at a news conference. He plans to field candidates mostly in Shizuoka, Aichi, Gifu and Mie — the prefectures that make up the central Tokai region.