Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda may meet Tuesday with arch-rival Ichiro Ozawa in a bid to persuade the former Democratic Party of Japan leader to drop his opposition to the bill to double the 5 percent consumption tax, DPJ sources said.
One of the sources said DPJ Secretary General Azuma Koshiishi is working to arrange a meeting between the two "next Tuesday or Wednesday," and would serve as mediator for any rendezvous.
But Ozawa, who wields considerable clout as head of the DPJ's largest faction, is highly unlikely to ease his staunch opposition to hiking the levy, according to the sources.