With the backing of major opposition parties, a government-sponsored bill aimed at giving Tokyo the power to continue forcibly leasing land for U.S. military bases in Okinawa easily passed a Lower House special committee without amendment April 10.
The bill cleared the Diet panel less than a week after it was introduced. The Lower House is expected to endorse the bill at its plenary session April 11.
The Upper House is also expected to give the bill the green light by the end of next week -- well in time for Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto's planned talks with U.S. President Bill Clinton on April 25 in Washington.