Signaling Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) is ready to ``play ball,'' party head Katsuya Okada on Tuesday said heavyweight Ichiro Ozawa has agreed to complete the executive lineup of the main opposition party.

``I think Ozawa is a home run slugger,'' Okada told a news conference. ``With this strong lineup, we have a team that can seek to topple the government. Ozawa's advice for the party is crucial for attaining that goal.''

Ozawa, the so-called strong arm, will become one of the party's five vice presidents-considered a relatively light post for his political stature. But with Ozawa's acceptance, Minshuto now has a complete shadow Cabinet and executive lineup.

Ozawa was the party's No. 2 as acting president until May, when Okada climbed to the top post. Ozawa had been eyed to take over the presidency after Naoto Kan stepped down earlier in May for having failed to pay his national-pension premiums. But Ozawa, also known as a ``party destroyer,'' was soon forced to step aside for a similar pension scandal.

He had since declined any party post.

After the September reshuffle, party chief Okada sought to draft the star politician to lead the party's election campaign, but Ozawa refused.

Despite the lack of any title, Ozawa nonetheless played a major role in Minshuto's surge in July's Upper House election by stumping throughout rural regions, toppling ruling Liberal Democratic Party strongholds.

``It was my only remaining homework,'' Okada said of getting Ozawa to join the lineup.

Four of the other vice presidents include Hajime Ishii and Takashi Yonezawa.(IHT/Asahi: November 17,2004)