Junya Ogawa, who took the reins of the Centrist Reform Alliance a month ago, faces a host of challenges. At the top of his to-do list: rebuilding the opposition party following its humiliating defeat in last month*s parliamentary election.

He has held back on grilling government leaders, something that opposition parties usually prefer doing, and instead tried to focus on policy debate.

※We*ll do our best to ensure that people can live their lives with peace of mind,§ Ogawa told reporters during a trip to Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture on Wednesday, emphasizing his party*s focus on tackling the soaring cost of living.