The government's monthly child allowance program was extended Thursday after securing the support of some opposition parties in the Diet.
Although the vote in the opposition-controlled House of Councilors was split, Upper House President Takeo Nishioka gave the green light to the bill, extending the program by six months through September. The program provides monthly allowances of ¥13,000 for each child aged under 15.
But in the face of fierce criticism from the opposition, the ruling bloc led by the Democratic Party of Japan has given up on another bill that would have increased the allowance to ¥20,000 for children under 3.
The House of Representatives, controlled by the DPJ-led ruling coalition, approved the stopgap bill Tuesday and sent it to the Upper House.