At the House of Councillors plenary session held on April 12, Diet member Michitaro Watanabe, an independent belonging to the “Liberal Democratic Party and Voice of the People” in-house group, received permission to resign. Watanabe was elected from the list of candidates for proportional representation constituencies of the former Your Party (Minna no To) so no one will move up to take Watanabe’s place. The strength of the House of Councillors in-house groups is now as follows.