A package of bills designed to save the nation's financially strapped pension system cleared the Upper House on Wednesday, paving the way for the introduction of new pension measures in April.
With the support of the tripartite ruling coalition, which comprises the Liberal Democratic Party, the Liberal Party and New Komeito, the bills passed the Upper House plenary session with a 139-98 vote.
The bills, which had been approved by the Lower House during the the previous Diet session but were carried over to the current one, were immediately sent back to the Lower House for a new vote. Enactment of the bills is expected as early as Friday.