Nine lawmakers who resigned from the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) a week ago in protest against a tax hike plan lunched a new party named Kizuna on Wednesday.

All new party members held a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, announcing the goal, the logo and the leader of the new party.

Akira Uchiyama, the president of the Kizuna party, said "Kizuna " means "bond" between people and it became more important after the March 11 disaster. The written character "kizuna" has chosen as best representing 2011 in a year when the country's worst calamity since the war saw strangers rushing to help one another.

They also unveiled their political opinions, including promoting renewable energy and stopping nuclear power, blocking tax hike and against joining negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).