A supra-partisan group of female House of Councilors members compiled a draft bill Wednesday to tackle domestic violence.
The bill would empower district courts to issue restraining orders to perpetrators of domestic violence.
Failure to comply with the order would incur a maximum one-year prison sentence or a 1 million yen fine.
The parliamentary group, led by Chieko Noono, a Liberal Democratic Party member, aims to present the bill to the current regular Diet session that started Wednesday, the group said.
Although the draft bill on the prevention of spouse violence and protection of victims does not single out domestic violence against women, it highlights women as the main victims of such violence and specifies that the aim of the legislation is their protection.
The draft legislation covers married couples and couples living together.
It clearly places responsibility for preventing violence and protecting victims from violent spouses on the state.
It urges prefectural governments to encourage women's centers to provide advice, support, counseling, emergency protection and refuge to victims of domestic violence as well as to encourage the independence and self-help efforts of victims.
The bill would allow police officers to take necessary measures to prevent violence if needed.