The leaders of Japan's two governing parties have agreed to maintain their coalition despite a recent rift over election cooperation. Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, who heads the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party, held talks with Komeito Chief Representative Yamaguchi Natsuo.

The two met for the first time since the junior coalition party Komeito informed the LDP last week of its decision not to support LDP candidates running in Tokyo.

Komeito had originally planned to field a candidate in one of five new single-seat districts to be added in Tokyo for the next Lower House election. But it abandoned the plan following the LDP's rejection of the idea.

Yamaguchi said: " It is not necessarily guaranteed that the LDP will stay in power on its own. I believe the Komeito's existence is extremely important."

The Secretary Generals of the two parties also met Tuesday. The LDP's Motegi Toshimitsu told his Komeito counterpart, Ishii Keiichi, the LDP would support Komeito candidates in two other prefectures.

After the meeting, the Komeito official reiterated his party's decision in Tokyo remains unchanged.

An NHK political analyst says the LDP is trying to avoid further complication in the relationship, which would spill over into other constituencies outside of Tokyo.

He also says the LDP has more than a few lawmakers who rely on the cooperation of Komeito, and the LDP may need to rethink its campaign strategy in the next election.