Many thanks to Chris for the update on the policy platform of Isshin no kai that was announced Monday.
However, as reported by Nikkei, Isshin no Kai's position still seems a bit unclear to me: the article mentions acceptance of a consumption tax increase, but their 8 Policies platform has no mention of the consumption tax; it only mentions cutting income tax and corporate tax while "strengthening" the property tax (and eliminating a regional implementation tax-chihou koufuzei). Regarding the Hashimoto Kawamura meeting, my understanding of what Hashimoto was saying (again based on press coverage) was that he did not want to discuss any tax increase or cut until more basic policies were decided, which seems consistent with what Rick wrote earlier about Hashimoto's fence sitting.
In any case, after Monday's announcement by the Isshin no Kai of their 8 Policies it will be interesting to see if Watanabe still continues to claim that Isshin no kai and Minna no tou have "identical" policies.

One thing I forgot to mention about yesterday's Yomiuri
poll: it asked respondents if they thought that the LDP should discuss the consumption tax increase with the ruling parties, and in response 72% answered they should, while a mere 20% answered that they should not, so clearly the LDP public support for being "obstructionist." Strikingly, in a shasetsu even Yomiuri criticized the LDP's refusal to enter into discussions as "childish." So perhaps Noda is having some success cornering the LDP.

Cheers,

Paul