The leadership election for one of Japan's smaller political parties has reignited the debate over the state of the opposition in the country, with calls for a united front against the ruling coalition clashing with personal ambitions and disagreements over policy.
Earlier this month, the race for the top job of the Democratic Party for the People (DPP) — a labor union-backed party born from the ashes of previous opposition groups in 2020 — saw former Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara challenge Yuichiro Tamaki, the incumbent leader.
In the campaign, the two candidates often seemed at odds over the future of the party, which has 21 seats in parliament.