Nagoya Mayor Takashi Kawamura and Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto have agreed to start policy consultations between their regional political groups on fielding candidates for the next general election and to seek a decentralization of power and other reforms.
A wave of such groups has sprouted up recently, led by populist local leaders seeking to challenge the central government.
"Now we have the foundation to build cooperation in the next Lower House election," Kawamura said after meeting with Hashimoto on Friday night in the city of Osaka.