The House of Representatives approved a package of bills Tuesday that will allow wiretapping in investigations into organized crime, paving the way for their passage in the Upper House during the current Diet session.
The bills cleared the Lower House with the support of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, its coalition partner, the Liberal Party, and New Komeito, which is regarded to be the second-largest opposition force.
The Democratic Party of Japan and the Social Democratic Party boycotted the vote and left the chamber, while the Japanese Communist Party voted against the bills.