Ichiro Ozawa vowed Wednesday to devote himself to expanding the support network for his new party to knock the ruling Democratic Party of Japan off its throne in the next Lower House general election.

His new party, Kokumin no Seikatsu ga Daiichi (People's Life First), celebrated the opening of its new headquarters in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward on Wednesday morning, taking another small step toward strengthening its foundation before the next election, which must be held by summer 2013.

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, the DPJ president, has the ultimate authority to dissolve the Lower House and call a snap election at any time and Ozawa has repeatedly stated his belief that it won't be long before a poll is held.