The meeting follows up on the meeting held the day before by the new LDP president, Sanae Takaichi, and JIP officials, during which the parties confirmed their consensus on key policies, such as the Constitution, foreign affairs, and national security.

However, no agreement was reached on several issues, including the temporary abolition of the food consumption tax and the ban on political donations by businesses and groups.

One of the JIP representatives, Fujita Fumitake, told national media that the likelihood of forming a full-scale coalition government with the LDP is high because collaboration is being taken very seriously.

If so, members of the JIP would join the cabinet if Takaichi is elected prime minister through a vote in Parliament within a few days.

I believe President Takaichi and I share similar views, and that helps us forge a relationship of trust, he stated.

According to the Japanese news agency NHK, the JIP is also currently engaged in collaborative negotiations with the opposition, so the next few hours and days are crucial in deciding the direction of the future government.

jav/otf/msm