Japan's opposition parties making last-ditch efforts against war bills

A protester holding a placard takes part in a rally against Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's security bill and his administration in front of the parliament in Tokyo, Japan, September 17, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

However, since the Abe-led ruling bloc secured the majority seats in both chambers of the national Diet, the motions are likely to be voted down.

In July, the legislation was rammed through the Japanese parliament's lower house amid strong opposition from the public and major opposition parties.

Rowdy scenes erupted on Thursday when the upper house panel voted on the bills as opposition party lawmakers surrounded and mobbed the panel's chairman.

The latest poll by the Asahi Shimbun, a major daily newspaper in the country, showed that the support rate for the prime minister's cabinet plunged to about 36 percent, the lowest level since Abe returned to power in late 2012. The disapproval rate for the cabinet stayed at about 42 percent.

The poll released on Tuesday also showed that 68 percent of the respondents opposed to pass the controversial bills during the current Diet session through Sept 27. About 54 percent said that they opposed the bills, compared with 29 percent who showed their support.

Meanwhile, outside the national Diet building, protesters rallied against the bills, shouting slogans demanding the retraction of the bills and resignation of the prime minister.

The security legislation opponents, including college students and housewives, hold demonstrations around the Diet building on a daily basis. On Aug 30, more than 120,000 people rallied here against the legislation while hundreds of similar demonstrations were held in other parts of Japan, involving about 1 million participants.