The Upper House passed nonbinding censure motions Friday against Defense Minister Yasuo Ichikawa and consumers affairs minister Kenji Yamaoka, dealing a blow to Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's administration on the last day of the extraordinary Diet session.
The Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito, the two largest opposition parties, submitted the motions to a full session of the chamber in the morning.
"Those who are appointed as ministers have to be people the public can trust. So if we think they are not suitable for the position, it's our responsibility to submit censure motions," Masashi Waki, Diet affairs chief of the LDP's Upper House caucus, said during the plenary session.