Opposition parties are leveraging their newly acquired clout in the Lower House after the Liberal Democratic Party-Komeito coalition lost its long-held majority in the Oct. 27 general election, starting with the assembly's agenda.

The government has officially requested a short four-day session from Nov. 11 to address the formal election of the prime minister and reallocation of key parliamentary posts according to the outcome of the recent election.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is expected to travel to South America for a meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum to be held from Nov. 15 and a summit of the Group of 20 advanced and emerging economies. Reports say he might extend the trip to travel to the United States to meet with the new president-elect.