Deliberations in the Diet slowed to a crawl on Friday as opposition parties effectively boycotted debates to protest the way Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has handled a scandal over a state-funded cherry blossom-viewing party.
And with the extraordinary Diet session set to close in about a week, there is a lot at stake for the ruling bloc.
"There are still many important bills that need to be passed in the Upper House, such as the ratification of the U.S.-Japan trade treaty," Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso was quoted by NHK as telling a meeting of his intraparty faction.