Upper House members of the ruling coalition ignored fierce opposition protests and voted for a contentious bill to revise the chamber's electoral system during a plenary session Thursday afternoon.
The bill was immediately sent to the Lower House, where it is expected to be passed into law next week.
Opposition lawmakers walked out in protest before the ruling triumvirate -- the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and the New Conservative Party -- voted for the bill, which will allow the electorate to vote for either an individual or a party in the proportional representation portion of Upper House elections.