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Extra Diet session

TOKYO, Japan - Azuma Koshiishi, head of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan's caucus in the House of Councillors, speaks after being elected as deputy president of the upper house, at the Diet building in Tokyo on Aug. 2, 2013. The Diet started an extraordinary session the same day.

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Ozawa to decide on whether to leave ruling DPJ

TOKYO, Japan - Ichiro Ozawa (C), former leader of the Democratic Party of Japan, walks in the Diet in Tokyo after talks with DPJ Secretary General Azuma Koshiishi on June 29, 2012. The ruling party could split soon, less than three years since it took power, with Ozawa, head of the largest intraparty faction, indicating he will decide July 2 on whether to leave the party over Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's sales tax hike proposal.

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Ozawa might create new party

TOKYO, Japan - Former Democratic Party of Japan leader Ichiro Ozawa heads for a meeting with DPJ Secretary General Azuma Koshiishi in the Diet on June 21, 2012. Ozawa referred to the possibility of creating a new party unless Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's government drops its proposal to raise the nation's sales tax rate, raising the specter of a split in the ruling party.

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Cabinet reshuffle

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda (2nd from R) and other ruling coalition leaders meet in Tokyo on June 4, 2012, to discuss a Cabinet reshuffle to take place later in the day. Others in photo are Azuma Koshiishi (R), secretary general of the Democratic Party of Japan led by Noda, Shozaburo Jimi (2nd from L), head of the coalition partner People's New Party, and Mikio Shimoji (L), PNP secretary general.

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DPJ decides to lift Ozawa's party membership suspension

TOKYO, Japan - Azuma Koshiishi (standing), secretary general of the Democratic Party of Japan, speaks at a meeting of DPJ executives at the parliament building in Tokyo on May 8, 2012. The ruling DPJ decided the same day to lift the party membership suspension of former leader Ichiro Ozawa following his acquittal the previous month of charges of falsifying political funds reports. At the far right is former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama.

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Koshiishi meets with Xi

BEIJING, China - Azuma Koshiishi (L), secretary general of the Democratic Party of Japan, and Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping hold talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 23, 2012. (Pool photo by Kyodo News)

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Koshiishi meets with Xi

BEIJING, China - Azuma Koshiishi (L), secretary general of the Democratic Party of Japan, and Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping shake hands at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 23, 2012. (Pool photo by Kyodo News)

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CORRECTED Secretaries general of DPJ, LDP, New Komeito

TOKYO, Japan - ADDING 'PARTY' AFTER NEW KOMEITO Secretaries general of the ruling and two largest opposition parties -- (from R) Azuma Koshiishi of the Democratic Party of Japan, Nobuteru Ishihara of the Liberal Democratic Party, and Yoshihisa Inoue of New Komeito party -- hold talks at the Diet building in Tokyo on Oct. 6, 2011. The DPJ called for the opposition parties' cooperation to secure quick Diet passage of the third extra budget for FY 2011, designed to fund reconstruction of areas devastated by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

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New leadership of Japan's ruling party

TOKYO, Japan - (From L) Democratic Party of Japan President Yoshihiko Noda, Azuma Koshiishi, secretary general of the DPJ, Seiji Maehara, DPJ policy chief, and Hirofumi Hirano, the party's Diet affairs chief, raise their fists at a DPJ lawmaker meeting in Tokyo on Aug. 31, 2011. The ruling DPJ launched its new leadership the same day under its president Noda.

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New DPJ secretary general

TOKYO, Japan - Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker Azuma Koshiishi speaks during a meeting of party parliamentarians in Tokyo on Aug. 31, 2011. The DPJ the same day launched its new leadership under the President and incoming Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, with the No. 2 post of secretary general handed to Koshiishi, a close ally of party power broker Ichiro Ozawa.

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Koshiishi to become DPJ's No. 2

TOKYO, Japan - Azuma Koshiishi, leader of the caucus of Democratic Party of Japan legislators in the House of Councillors, is pictured at the DPJ's headquarters in Tokyo on Aug. 30, 2011. The ruling party's new leader, Yoshihiko Noda, tapped Koshiishi, a veteran lawmaker with close ties to DPJ power broker Ichiro Ozawa, to assume the party's No. 2 post of secretary general and to act as a pivotal figure to boost party unity the same day.

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DPJ divided over Ozawa's fate

TOKYO, Japan - Azuma Koshiishi (C), leader of the House of Councillors caucus of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, heads for a meeting with other DPJ executives at its head office in Tokyo on Dec. 13, 2010. The party brass held the meeting at a time when infighting has become tense among senior party members over the issue of how to handle Ichiro Ozawa's political funds scandal.

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Kan's Cabinet reshuffle

TOKYO, Japan - Katsuya Okada (L), the new secretary general of Prime Minister Naoto Kan's ruling Democratic Party of Japan, talks with Azuma Koshiishi, leader of the party's upper house caucus, after a meeting of DPJ lawmakers in Tokyo on Sept. 17, 2010.

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DPJ's Ozawa, Hatoyama discuss party leadership election

TOKYO, Japan - Former Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa (L) discusses an upcoming party leadership election with former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama (R) at a lower house lawmakers' hall in Tokyo on Aug. 30, 2010. At the center is Azuma Koshiishi, leader of the DPJ's upper house caucus.

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Hatoyama meets with Ozawa amid calls for PM's resignation

TOKYO, Japan - Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa heads for a meeting with Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and DPJ upper house caucus leader Azuma Koshiishi at the Diet building in Tokyo on June 1, 2010. The meeting was held amid calls within the party for Hatoyama to step down ahead of the upcoming upper house election.

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Hatoyama meets with Ozawa amid calls for PM's resignation

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama heads for a meeting with Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa and DPJ upper house caucus leader Azuma Koshiishi at the Diet building in Tokyo on June 1, 2010. The meeting was held amid calls within the party for Hatoyama to step down ahead of the upcoming upper house election.

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Judo champion Tani to run in election on DPJ ticket

TOKYO, Japan - Two-time Olympic judo champion Ryoko Tani (C) joins hands with ruling Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa (L) and DPJ House of Councillors caucus head Azuma Koshiishi during a press conference in Tokyo on May 10, 2010. Tani announced she will run in the House of Councillors election in the summer on the DPJ ticket and said she will continue her judo career.

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DPJ execs attend meeting with gov't

TOKYO, Japan - (From L) Azuma Koshiishi, acting secretary general of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, Ichiro Ozawa, DPJ secretary general, and Kenji Yamaoka, chief of the DPJ parliamentary proceedings committee, attend a meeting with Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and top officials of his government at the premier's office Jan. 11, 2010.

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DPJ launches new leadership under Hatoyama

TOKYO, Japan - New top executives of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan -- (from L to R) Acting President Azuma Koshiishi, Acting President Naoto Kan, President Yukio Hatoyama, Acting President Ichiro Ozawa and Secretary General Katsuya Okada -- pose for photos at the DPJ's headquarters in Tokyo on May 19 after the new party leadership under Hatoyama was launched.

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Aso reiterates priority on economic measures over election

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Taro Aso replies to questions from Azuma Koshiishi, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan's upper house caucus, at a plenary session of the House of Councillors on Oct. 2.

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Interpellations at the House of Councillors

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda (R, back row) and Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura (L, back row) listen from the government bench as Azuma Koshiishi, head of the Democratic Party of Japan's House of Councillors caucus, questions the government during a plenary session of the upper house on Oct. 4.

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Interpellations at the House of Councillors

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda (R, back row) and Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura (L, back row) listen from the government bench as Azuma Koshiishi, head of the Democratic Party of Japan's House of Councillors caucus, questions the government during a plenary session of the upper house on Oct. 4. (Kyodo)

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DPJ launches new leadership under Hatoyama

TOKYO, Japan - New top executives of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan -- (from L to R) Acting President Azuma Koshiishi, Acting President Naoto Kan, President Yukio Hatoyama, Acting President Ichiro Ozawa and Secretary General Katsuya Okada -- pose for photos at the DPJ's headquarters in Tokyo on May 19 after the new party leadership under Hatoyama was launched. (Kyodo)

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Election campaigns in Yamanashi

KOFU, Japan - Democratic Party of Japan candidate Azuma Koshiishi raises his fist near his election office in Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture, on June 24, 2010, ahead of the July 11 House of Councillors election. (Kyodo)

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DPJ execs attend meeting with gov't

TOKYO, Japan - (From L) Azuma Koshiishi, acting secretary general of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, Ichiro Ozawa, DPJ secretary general, and Kenji Yamaoka, chief of the DPJ parliamentary proceedings committee, attend a meeting with Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and top officials of his government at the premier's office Jan. 11, 2010. (Kyodo)

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Judo champion Tani to run in election on DPJ ticket

TOKYO, Japan - Two-time Olympic judo champion Ryoko Tani (C) joins hands with ruling Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa (L) and DPJ House of Councillors caucus head Azuma Koshiishi during a press conference in Tokyo on May 10, 2010. Tani announced she will run in the House of Councillors election in the summer on the DPJ ticket and said she will continue her judo career. (Kyodo)

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DPJ divided over Ozawa's fate

TOKYO, Japan - Azuma Koshiishi (C), leader of the House of Councillors caucus of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, heads for a meeting with other DPJ executives at its head office in Tokyo on Dec. 13, 2010. The party brass held the meeting at a time when infighting has become tense among senior party members over the issue of how to handle Ichiro Ozawa's political funds scandal.(Kyodo)

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Kan's Cabinet reshuffle

TOKYO, Japan - Katsuya Okada (L), the new secretary general of Prime Minister Naoto Kan's ruling Democratic Party of Japan, talks with Azuma Koshiishi, leader of the party's upper house caucus, after a meeting of DPJ lawmakers in Tokyo on Sept. 17, 2010. (Kyodo)

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Ozawa, Hatoyama meet over DPJ leadership election

TOKYO, Japan - Former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama (R), Ichiro Ozawa (L), a ruling Democratic Party of Japan kingpin, and Azuma Koshiishi, leader of the DPJ's upper house caucus, meet at an office building of the Diet in Tokyo on Aug. 31, 2010, in an attempt to avoid a political showdown at the party's upcoming presidential election.

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New leadership of Japan's ruling party

TOKYO, Japan - (From L) Democratic Party of Japan President Yoshihiko Noda, Azuma Koshiishi, secretary general of the DPJ, Seiji Maehara, DPJ policy chief, and Hirofumi Hirano, the party's Diet affairs chief, raise their fists at a DPJ lawmaker meeting in Tokyo on Aug. 31, 2011. The ruling DPJ launched its new leadership the same day under its president Noda. (Kyodo)

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New DPJ secretary general

TOKYO, Japan - Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker Azuma Koshiishi speaks during a meeting of party parliamentarians in Tokyo on Aug. 31, 2011. The DPJ the same day launched its new leadership under the President and incoming Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, with the No. 2 post of secretary general handed to Koshiishi, a close ally of party power broker Ichiro Ozawa. (Kyodo)

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DPJ's Ozawa, Hatoyama discuss party leadership election

TOKYO, Japan - Former Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa (L) discusses an upcoming party leadership election with former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama (R) at a lower house lawmakers' hall in Tokyo on Aug. 30, 2010. At the center is Azuma Koshiishi, leader of the DPJ's upper house caucus. (Kyodo)

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Koshiishi to become DPJ's No. 2

TOKYO, Japan - Azuma Koshiishi, leader of the caucus of Democratic Party of Japan legislators in the House of Councillors, is pictured at the DPJ's headquarters in Tokyo on Aug. 30, 2011. The ruling party's new leader, Yoshihiko Noda, tapped Koshiishi, a veteran lawmaker with close ties to DPJ power broker Ichiro Ozawa, to assume the party's No. 2 post of secretary general and to act as a pivotal figure to boost party unity the same day. (Kyodo)

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Hatoyama meets with Ozawa amid calls for PM's resignation

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama heads for a meeting with Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa and DPJ upper house caucus leader Azuma Koshiishi at the Diet building in Tokyo on June 1, 2010. The meeting was held amid calls within the party for Hatoyama to step down ahead of the upcoming upper house election. (Kyodo)

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Hatoyama meets with Ozawa amid calls for PM's resignation

TOKYO, Japan - Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa heads for a meeting with Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and DPJ upper house caucus leader Azuma Koshiishi at the Diet building in Tokyo on June 1, 2010. The meeting was held amid calls within the party for Hatoyama to step down ahead of the upcoming upper house election. (Kyodo)

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DPJ decides to lift Ozawa's party membership suspension

TOKYO, Japan - Azuma Koshiishi (standing), secretary general of the Democratic Party of Japan, speaks at a meeting of DPJ executives at the parliament building in Tokyo on May 8, 2012. The ruling DPJ decided the same day to lift the party membership suspension of former leader Ichiro Ozawa following his acquittal the previous month of charges of falsifying political funds reports. At the far right is former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama. (Kyodo)

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Koshiishi meets with Xi

BEIJING, China - Azuma Koshiishi (L), secretary general of the Democratic Party of Japan, and Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping shake hands at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 23, 2012. (Pool photo by Kyodo News)(Kyodo)

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Koshiishi meets with Xi

BEIJING, China - Azuma Koshiishi (L), secretary general of the Democratic Party of Japan, and Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping hold talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 23, 2012. (Pool photo by Kyodo News)(Kyodo)

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CORRECTED Secretaries general of DPJ, LDP, New Komeito

TOKYO, Japan - ADDING 'PARTY' AFTER NEW KOMEITO Secretaries general of the ruling and two largest opposition parties -- (from R) Azuma Koshiishi of the Democratic Party of Japan, Nobuteru Ishihara of the Liberal Democratic Party, and Yoshihisa Inoue of New Komeito party -- hold talks at the Diet building in Tokyo on Oct. 6, 2011. The DPJ called for the opposition parties' cooperation to secure quick Diet passage of the third extra budget for FY 2011, designed to fund reconstruction of areas devastated by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. (Kyodo)