Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday defended the new and controversial casino legalization bill as vital to increasing jobs and boosting Japan's tourism industry amid a scathing attack from opposition leader Renho in their first party leaders' debate.

Renho, clad in her signature white suit, launched a barrage of diatribes at Abe — covering everything from the casino bill to the prime minister's ongoing struggle to revolutionize Japan's long-hours work culture to his "failure" to empower female politicians.

This was the first time the two faced off in a debate at the Diet since Renho assumed the leadership of the Democratic Party in September.