It appears certain that Tokyo Gov. Yoichi Masuzoe will be forced to resign over a high-profile political funds scandal, with both ruling and opposition forces in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly poised to submit no-confidence motions against him.

The Tokyo chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) held an emergency meeting in Tokyo on June 14, and initiated arrangements to seek Masuzoe's resignation. The LDP's junior coalition partner Komeito decided to submit a no-confidence motion against the governor in the metropolitan assembly the same day.

Three opposition groups have already announced that they will file a no-confidence motion against Masuzoe.

Komeito apparently seeks to file a no-confidence motion against Masuzoe together with the LDP, but if such a motion is passed, then Masuzoe would have the option of dissolving the metropolitan assembly. The LDP is accordingly looking to pressure Masuzoe to resign of his own accord.

"We've placed the ball in the LDP's court," a Komeito representative said. If the LDP doesn't get on board (with the submission of a no-confidence motion), we'll go ahead and do it alone."