The apparent end of Japan's longstanding conservative ruling coalition increases the likelihood of a fragile opposition government taking power, which would lead to greater political instability and uncertainty in U.S.-Japan trade ties, but would also improve prospects for Japan's regional relations. On Oct. 10, Tetsuo Saito, the leader of Japan's center-left Komeito party, the minor coalition partner of the ruling conservative Liberal Democratic Party, announced he was ending their 26-year-old coalition agreement. The announcement followed Saito's meeting with new LDP President Sanae Takaichi earlier that day -- the third such meeting since Oct. 4, when the LDP elected Takaichi as party leader. During the Oct. 10 meeting, Saito again requested concrete pledges on political finance reform and corruption investigations, but Takaichi said such moves would take time and require consideration. Saito's announcement has cast uncertainty over the outcome of the LDP's plans to convene an extraordinary Diet session on Oct....
