Speculation is swirling among the politically well-connected that Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto may have agreed to help Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pass contentious security legislation when the two met in Tokyo on Sunday.

Hours after the meeting, Hashimoto tweeted a number of messages discussing security issues. In one of them, he said his Ishin no To (Japan Innovation Party) should "draw a line" to distance itself from the Democratic Party of Japan, the largest opposition party.

Political insiders believe Hashimoto's role may be to urge Ishin members to cooperate with the ruling camp to help enact the security bills.