Japan's LDP and Ishin agree to form coalition government, says NHK

Japan's Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Innovation Party have effectively agreed to form a coalition government, public broadcaster NHK said on Monday (October 20), citing a source familiar with the matter.

LDP chief Sanae Takaichi and Hirofumi Yoshimura, head of the smaller, right-leaning party known as Ishin, spoke via phone on Monday morning and effectively reached an agreement, NHK said.

The two leaders will formally establish the coalition by signing an agreement on Monday night, NHK reported.