Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda achieved a major goal Friday when the Upper House passed his administration's social security and tax reform bills that will double the sales tax to 10 percent by 2015.
Noda has staked his political career on the unpopular plan to increase the consumption tax.
Friday's passage of the three bills came a day after Noda easily survived a no-confidence motion with the support of the two major opposition parties after promising to dissolve the Lower House for a snap election "soon." He didn't elaborate on the timing.