Prime Minister Shinzo Abe opened the 62-day extraordinary Diet session Monday, one day after indicating his readiness to step down if he fails to win extension of Japan's support for antiterrorism operations in Afghanistan.
In the evening, Abe told reporters that his remark Sunday should be "taken at face value."
"I made the remarks with the determination to stake my job on and deal with the issue with the utmost effort," Abe said.