Cresting criticism of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe over his use of strong-arm tactics to pass the contentious state secrets bill gives ex-Your Party Secretary-General Kenji Eda the momentum to build a new opposition party by year's end.
The only problem is his timing might be off.
While Eda may have the support of opposition lawmakers, who are routinely routed by the ruling camp, critics say there's little chance his new party will reshape the political landscape anytime soon, not since Abe's Liberal Democratic Party-New Komeito alliance roared back to the helm of politics in last December's general election and solidified its mandate in the July Upper House poll.