On February 17th, the leaders of the Center Reform Union, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, and the Komeito Party met in the National Diet to discuss upcoming political strategy. They have decided to nominate Junya Ogawa, the leader of the Center Reform Union, for the prime ministerial election scheduled for February 18. Notably, while members of the House of Representatives from both the Constitutional Democratic and Komeito parties have joined the Center Reform Union, their counterparts in the House of Councillors are choosing to remain within their respective parties. During the meeting, which included Ogawa, Toshiaki Mizuoka of the Constitutional Democratic Party, and Toshiko Takeya of Komeito, the leaders reached an agreement not only on the prime ministerial nomination but also on a framework for future collaboration. They plan to have their secretaries and other senior officials conduct regular meetings and establish joint sessions to discuss policy matters. This collaborative approach indicates a shift in opposition strategies and a united front against the current ruling parties. Ogawa expressed optimism regarding the new cooperative framework and emphasized the importance of generational change and increased female representation in political leadership. The new executive team aims to project a fresh image as they prepare for upcoming challenges, including countering the ruling administration's policies led by Prime Minister Takaichi and addressing the significant power imbalance in the legislature.