Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party) decided at a meeting of its Upper House members on Dec. 19 to accept the Party of Hope’s proposal to form a joint parliamentary group in the Upper House starting with next year’s ordinary Diet session. In the breakdown of floor groups in the Upper House, Nippon Ishin has 11 members and the Party of Hope has three. The two parties will now form a joint parliamentary group, which will be on a par with the Japanese Communist Party, which has 14 members.