The Liberal Democratic Party must "humbly accept" the harsh public outrage over its recent forced passage of contentious pension reform bills as it strives to retain its strength in the July 11 House of Councilors election, the LDP secretary general said.

"Our goal is (to win) 51 seats currently held (by the party) that are being contested," Shinzo Abe told The Japan Times in an interview this week.

"Facing the election after fulfilling our obligation (to enact the government bills) amid very severe criticism against pension reforms, I don't think it's an easy target. . . . It is a rather severe goal," he said.