Deputy Prime Minister Katsuya Okada on Sunday acknowledged the importance of the opposition parties in passing social security and tax reform legislation, including the sales tax hike.
"The bills will not pass the House of Councilors without the support of the opposition parties, particularly the Liberal Democratic Party," Okada said on a TV program aired by NHK. "It is quite important to build consensus during the deliberations at the House of Representatives."
The Upper House is still in under the control of the opposition bloc.