In an attempt at damage control following an unprecedented spat over whose election candidates to support, the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito agreed Tuesday to endorse each other¡¯s candidates everywhere except Tokyo in the next general election.

¡°The LDP and Komeito share an understanding that the ruling parties will secure the maximum number of seats in parliament,¡± LDP Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi said Tuesday morning.

Later in the day, following a meeting with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Komeito leader Natsuo Yamaguchi told reporters, ¡°This was a major step in the process of rebuilding the coalition based on the premise that we share a sense of mission to maintain the coalition government.¡±