The ruling Liberal Democratic Party approved a Cabinet plan Thursday to adopt a bill today to legally recognize the Hinomaru as the national flag and "Kimigayo" as the anthem.
Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi's Cabinet will submit the bill to the current regular Diet session, which is scheduled to close next Thursday.
Although it is widely believed the government and the LDP are intending to extend the session to handle key bills, prospects for enacting the Hinomaru-Kimigayo bill during the current Diet session are uncertain.