The apparent end of Japan's longstanding conservative ruling coalition increases the likelihood of a fragile opposition government taking power, which would lead to greater political instability and uncertainty in U.S.-Japan trade ties, but would also improve prospects for Japan's regional relations. On Oct. 10, Tetsuo Saito, the leader of Japan's center-left Komeito party, the minor coalition partner of the ruling conservative Liberal Democratic Party, announced he was ending their 26-year-old coalition agreement. The announcement followed Saito's meeting with new LDP President Sanae Takaichi earlier that day — the third such meeting since Oct. 4, when the LDP elected Takaichi as party leader . During the Oct. 10 meeting, Saito again requested concrete pledges on political finance reform and corruption investigations, but Takaichi said such moves would take time and require consideration.