Komeito to leave Japan's ruling coalition

The head of Japan's Komeito has told the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party that his party will quit the ruling coalition. This will bring an end to a partnership that has lasted more than a quarter of a century. Komeito Chief Representative Saito Tetsuo met with the LDP's new President Takaichi Sanae on Friday afternoon.

He said that the LDP failed to provide sufficient answers regarding political funding issues. Komeito has urged the LDP to adopt a proposal of restricting the channels of corporate and organizational donations. Komeito joined the coalition government led by the LDP in 1999, when the LDP fell short of a majority in the Upper House.