Crowdfunding brings 100 mil. yen to cash-strapped Japan main opposition

TOKYO - The cash-strapped Centrist Reform Alliance, Japan's main opposition party, has raised over 100 million yen ($620,000) about one month after launching a crowdfunding campaign to broaden its support ahead of key local elections next year.

The party, formed by lawmakers from the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Komeito party, has struggled financially since its crushing defeat in the February House of Representatives election reduced its seats from nearly 170 to just under 50, slashing its public subsidies.