THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, right, talks to reporters while Osaka Governor Ichiro Matsui looks on. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto is proceeding with plans to turn his regional Osaka Ishin no Kai group into a formal political party and has asked former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to join as a core member.