Opposition slams Takaichi's Diet dissolution as lacking "justification"

TOKYO - Japan's opposition parties on Friday stepped up their pressure on Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's ruling coalition over living standards, saying she dissolved the House of Representatives with "no justification" amid high poll ratings.

"If she had worked and worked and worked and then called the election, that would have been fine," said Yoshihiko Noda, co-leader of the new main opposition party, referring to Takaichi's catchphrase when she became Liberal Democratic Party's president in October.