Japan was among 18 countries elected Monday to serve on the Geneva-based U.N. Human Rights Council beginning in January.
"Gaining 182 votes is good for us and it represents broad support from the membership," Kazuo Kodama, Japan's deputy ambassador to the United Nations, said after the elections were held at a plenary session in the General Assembly by secret ballot. "We will do our best."
Japan has been criticized recently by some countries for its handling of issues such as the wartime "comfort women" and for its position on the death penalty. Japan last served on the council during a three-year term that expired in 2011.