Japanese Communist Party President Kazuo Shii told the press on Thursday that his party is inviting leaders from three opposition parties – the Democratic Party, Liberal Party and Social Democratic Party – to attend the JCP party congress as guests of honor. The JCP congress is scheduled to take place between January 15th and 18th in Atami City (Shizuoka Prefecture).

If a head of any party attends the congress, it would be the first such occasion, Shii said. He said in the press briefing, “We have been holding unofficial talks [with our counterparts].”

During a press briefing on the same day, SDP leader Tadatomo Yoshida said, “I would like to attend (the JCP congress) to further reinforce the opposition parties’ united front.”