Japan's main opposition members to join popular Tokyo governor's party

The main opposition Democratic Party decided Thursday to join forces with the newly established party led by Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike in the upcoming lower house election, effectively disbanding itself to form a united front against the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.The Democratic Party, which has been struggling in opinion polls, will now ask Koike's "Kibo no To" (party of hope) to back its candidates in the Oct. 22 election, said the party's leader Seiji Maehara who assumed his post just three weeks ago."I hope you all understand the decision to choose substance over appearance," Maehara…READ FULL ARTICLE