Discretion is the better part of valor, Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi might say.

But opposition parties are fuming over the leader's repeated absence from the weekly "question time" debate sessions, which had been widely touted as a visible form of Diet reform.

Obuchi skipped Wednesday's scheduled debate with opposition leaders, saying that he will have an opportunity to speak at the Upper House Budget Committee on Friday, when it is expected to vote on the fiscal 2000 budget.