TOKYO - Japanese ruling party powerbroker Ichiro Ozawa has agreed to appear at a parliamentary ethics panel over a funding scandal, NHK public TV said on Tuesday, in a possible breakthrough in a row that has threatened to split the party.

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The bickering in the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has distracted the government from addressing tough policy decisions and complicated prospects for passing laws in a divided parliament, including bills needed to implement the budget for the fiscal year from April 1.

NHK said Ozawa had conveyed his willingness to attend the panel to his ally, former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, after DPJ executives agreed on Monday to start procedures to have the panel summon him and Prime Minister Naoto Kan upped the pressure by hinting that he might try to force Ozawa out of the party if he refused.

The strife in the DPJ has also helped to undermine support rates for Kan's six-month-old government, fanning speculation he may become Japan's latest short-lived leader.

A survey by the Nikkei business daily published on Monday showed only about one in four voters backed Kan's administration, while dissatisfied voters rose five points to 65 percent. Kan is Japan's fifth premier since 2006.

Ozawa, 68, a veteran political strategist who once headed the DPJ, has so far refused to appear at the ethics panel to explain the scandal, in which he faces mandatory indictment over suspected misreporting by his political funds body.

He has denied any wrongdoing.

Kan seems to have thought that forcing Ozawa to answer questions in parliament would help boost government support and improve his own chances of keeping his job.

Opposition parties also want Ozawa to explain the scandal.

But while pursuading Ozawa to appear might help clear the way for cooperation on passing bills with the second-biggest opposition party, the New Komeito, that outcome is not assured.

And the biggest opposition party, the Liberal Democrats, has threatened to boycott debate in parliament when the session opens in January, unless Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku and Transport Minister Sumio Mabuchi resign.

Both were targets of non-binding censure motions in the upper house for their handling of a territorial row with China.

Kan indicated on Monday that he was considering reshuffling his cabinet, but gave no clues to what specific personnel changes he had in mind.