The first Diet debate on the Constitution since it was written in 1946 could come in January.
The Lower House on Tuesday got the ball rolling by passing a bill that revises the Diet Law and establishes an in-house panel to conduct the debate, which is expected to take at least five years.
The bill was supported by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, its coalition partner the Liberal Party, New Komeito, which is being wooed by the LDP to join the coalition, and the opposition Democratic Party of Japan.