The opposition parties made one final attempt Friday to stop the ruling bloc from ramming pension system-related bills through the Diet with motions to censure Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and health minister Hakuo Yanagisawa.
The Democratic Party of Japan, the Social Democratic Party and Kokumin Shinto (People's New Party) submitted several censure motions in the House of Councilors and a request for a vote of no confidence against Abe's Cabinet in the House of Representatives.
"Abe's Cabinet is just running around, hiding the problems" instead of facing them, Yoshiaki Takaki, the DPJ's Diet affairs chief, said during a meeting of the party's Lower House members Friday afternoon.