Much has been said about the need for parliamentary reform, but so far little effective action has been taken. The Diet -- the supreme organ of the state -- appears to stand aloof from the wave of restructuring sweeping the nation's economic and industrial society. The national legislature's apparent reluctance to change itself is also in striking contrast to the forward-looking efforts being made by the executive and judiciary branches.

But now a parliamentary research commission has come up with a report calling for sweeping changes in the Lower House, ranging from establishing political ethics to conducting more substantive and open discussion, and cutting legislators' allowances. It even includes recommendations that seem to have little to do with Diet reform, such as changing the ways political parties make decisions and consolidating the Diet secretaries.

Nevertheless, the report should provide the basis for reform of the Diet in general and the Lower House in particular. Speaker Tamisuke Watanuki, to whom the recommendations have been submitted, has already asked the Lower House Committee on the Parliamentary System to draw up a blueprint. It remains to be seen, however, whether full-dress reform of a Parliament steeped in time-honored customs and practices will make it to the political agenda.