The House of Councilors rejected on Friday a nonbinding censure motion against farm minister Tsutomu Takebe, but New Komeito's decision to abstain from the vote underlined the flagging unity within the Liberal Democratic Party-led ruling coalition.
It is the first time that members of the ruling alliance have shown disunity in key votes since the triumvirate was formed in April 2000.
The motion was voted down 114 votes to 102, with the LDP and New Conservative Party making up the majority. Members of New Komeito, the third coalition partner, were absent from the vote, which took place at the Upper House plenary session.