Following is the ruling parties’ outlook for Diet deliberations from November:

Most papers reported on an agreement reached yesterday by the ruling LDP and the opposition Democratic Party to put the TPP legislation to a vote in the Lower House on Friday, noting that the bills will first be approved at a Lower House committee this afternoon and then passed at a plenary session two days later. As a result, the….Read more

Nikkei reported on the LDP’s plan to start Diet deliberations on a bill designed to promote the development of “integrated resorts” on Nov. 9 at the earliest. The junior ruling partner Komeito, which is extremely cautious about legalizing gambling, has acknowledged the need to hold parliamentary discussions on allowing casinos in Japan. The daily projected, however, that it remains uncertain….Read more

In an interview with the Mainichi Shimbun, Eisuke Mori, the chairman of the Lower House Commission on the Constitution, revealed his thoughts on resuming debate on constitutional revision.   Q: This is the first commission meeting under the two-thirds majority for constitutional reform in both Diet chambers.   A: Two-thirds is just one indicator. For achieving majority support for the national referendum, the….Read more

All papers highlighted Diet discussions on the GOJ-sponsored TPP legislation on Thursday, noting that the ruling coalition has chosen not to put the bills to a vote at a Lower House plenary session on Friday and instead is aiming to do so on Nov. 1 or later out of deference to the opposition camp, which remains strongly opposed to the….Read more

In their meeting on Oct. 26, the chief members of the ruling and opposition parties of the House of Representatives Commission on the Constitution agreed to restart deliberations at the commission on Nov. 10. Lawmakers from various parties will hold a free discussion on the background of the Japanese constitution’s drafting and look back on the 70 years since its adoption. The final decision on….Read more

Nippon Ishin no Kai leader Ichiro Matsui (Osaka governor) gave an interview to Sankei Shimbun in Osaka City on Oct. 24. He commented on the House of Representatives Commission on the Constitution’s failure to conduct any substantial deliberation in one year and five months, saying “the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) should make the decision to convene the commission even without….Read more

All papers reported that the ruling coalition decided yesterday to hold a hearing today at a Lower House special panel to listen to opinions on the TPP from private-sector experts, with the goal of putting the TPP legislation to a committee vote on Friday. The Democratic Party and the Japanese Communist Party will probably boycott the session given that the….Read more

Yomiuri wrote that the junior ruling party Komeito appears to be growing flexible about the legislation to legalize gambling perhaps in order to prevent the LDP from deepening collaboration with the third largest opposition party, Nippon Ishin no Kai, which is extremely keen to pass the bill. Although Komeito has long been cautious about lifting a ban on casinos, it….Read more

Sunday morning’s Asahi reported that the board of the Lower House special committee on TPP agreed on Friday to push back the date for a regional hearing on the TPP from Oct. 24 to 26, adding that both the Democratic Party and the Japanese Communist Party have agreed to return to Diet deliberations. The two opposition parties refused to attend….Read more