Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he plans to convene a regular session of the Diet on Jan. 4, citing difficulties in meeting opposition demands to hold an extraordinary session this fall.
"Taking into account diplomatic schedules and the compilation of a budget, I cannot help but judge that it is effectively difficult to convene the Diet by the end of the year," Abe told reporters Monday in Antalya, Turkey.
Starting the legislative session just a few days into a new year will be "very unusual, but we would like to convene a regular Diet session on Jan. 4," he said.
Regular Diet sessions normally start in late January.
Opposition parties have been calling on the ruling coalition to hold an extraordinary session this fall to deliberate issues such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which would expose domestic farmers to greater international competition.
A broad deal on the TPP was struck in October by Japan and 11 other Pacific Rim nations.
The Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, Komeito, have been reluctant to hold a session in the fall, citing Abe's tight diplomatic schedule, which includes trips to the Philippines, Malaysia and France.
Abe said Monday that measures to cushion the impact of the TPP on farmers are likely to be discussed during the regular session. But asked if the administration will seek to ratify the pact during the upcoming Diet session, Abe said he will discuss it with the ruling parties first.
The ruling bloc is expected early in the session to seek passage of an extra budget for the current fiscal year in an attempt to shore up the economy.