Known for his adeptness at back-room deals, the often pugnacious Ozawa has been accused by critics of being better at destroying the old order than creating a new one.
But Ozawa, 61, is confident that the LDP will be toppled in the not-too-distant future, a scenario some political analysts say is credible given the party's shrinking constituency of vested interests such as farmers, builders and small businesses.
optimism
Barring unpredictable events such as deaths of Japanese troops in Iraq or an attack at home, the Democrats should put in a respectable performance in an Upper House poll in July, Ozawa said.
"The call for a change in administration is growing stronger, so I think we will have a good showing, but whether it will be an overwhelming victory or not, I don't know," he said. "But we will win in the next Lower House election, without a doubt."
Sometimes dubbed a "shadow shogun" for operating behind the scenes, Ozawa says he has no desire to be prime minister himself.
"Through a change in administration, the LDP government -- the LDP itself -- would collapse. The existing power structure would collapse. In other words, the iron triangle of politicians, bureaucrats and industry would collapse," he said.
"At that point, a new Japan would begin. And at that point, my mission would be nearly complete."
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