Seiji Maehara's departure from the Democratic Party for the People (DPP) to form a new political party is seen by many across the political aisle as a move to join Nippon Ishin no Kai in the future.
The prominent lawmaker aims to achieve a change in government through a coalition of lawmakers other than those from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the opposition Japanese Communist Party (JCP).
"I want to promote non-LDP, non-JCP opposition cooperation that focuses on policy," Maehara said at a news conference Thursday.