A special committee of the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of Japan’s parliament, on Wednesday passed government-sponsored special legislation for Emperor Akihito’s abdication.
A special committee of the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of Japan’s parliament, on Wednesday passed government-sponsored special legislation for Emperor Akihito’s abdication.
The committee approved the abdication bill, which applies only to the current Emperor, with support from all parties, except for the small opposition Liberal Party.
The legislation, which cleared the House of Representatives, the lower chamber, last week, is expected to be enacted at Friday’s plenary meeting of the Upper House, setting the stage for the first Imperial abdication in about 200 years in Japan.
