In the latest political clash over a controversial immigration bill, the ruling parties on Tuesday voted down a motion calling for the dismissal of the head of the Lower House's judiciary committee.
The motion was submitted last week against Chairman Yasuhiro Hanashi, a Liberal Democratic Party member, by the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan in protest against his push for quick deliberations over revision of the immigration control act.
The LDP-Komeito ruling bloc is now trying to pass the bill through the chamber by Nov. 27, according to Hiroshi Moriyama, chairman of the LDP's Diet Affairs Committee.