Japan's new centrist party wins largest opposition status ahead of election

TOKYO - Japan's new party pitching centrist policies officially kicked off Thursday as the largest opposition force in the House of Representatives, announcing over 220 candidates to run on its ticket for the Feb. 8 election and a pledge to eliminate the consumption tax on food starting in this fall.

The Centrist Reform Alliance seeks to counter the conservative ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, banding members of the largest and third largest opposition parties -- the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito -- in a major shakeup in the country's often fractured opposition.