Japan's Komeito party, a former longtime ruling coalition junior partner, selected Mitsunari Okamoto as its new leader on Saturday as it prepares for an extraordinary Diet session starting next week, local media reported.

According to Kyodo News, Okamoto, 61, a House of Representatives lawmaker, replaced Toshiko Takeya following approval at the party convention. Takeya, a senator, had led the party since January, when Komeito's lower house lawmakers joined the opposition Centrist Reform Alliance. However, the Alliance split in September.