Ichiro Ozawa, president of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan, said Sept. 15 he is considering integrating his party with the minor opposition People's New Party ahead of a possible House of Representatives election in the coming months.

The two parties are in the process of selecting candidates for the anticipated Lower House election, but in some constituencies their potential candidates may compete against each other.

Ozawa, meanwhile, said he has not yet decided whether he will change his constituency.

"I know there has been such speculation. But I have not decided precisely," he said.

His possible constituency change made headlines after DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama said on a TV program Sept. 14 that Ozawa would change to somewhere in the Kanto area from the Iwate No. 4 district, his home location.