<p>In scenes uncommon for Japan’s normally sedate parliament, the left-wing lawmakers engaged in a brawl with other parliamentarians in an attempt to block a controversial immigration bill, the New York Post reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Liberal Democratic Party&nbsp;as well as two opposition parties, the Democratic Party for the People and Nippon Ishin no Kai voted in favour of the bill. However, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) and the Japanese Communist Party (JCP) opposed the legislation saying it did nothing to protect the rights of asylum-seekers as well as&nbsp;improving&nbsp;the current treatment of detainees stuck at immigration facilities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Though the protest started off ordinarily,&nbsp;Taro Yamamoto, an actor and leader of the Reiwa party, soon jumped onto the crowd, seemingly trying to reach the discussion table.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Steamrolling this bill is unacceptable.&nbsp;That’s why we demand that it be withdrawn and that thorough deliberations be conducted,” said Sohei Nihia, a JCP member during the debate.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">"Battle Royale" actor and left-wing populist Reiwa party leader Taro Yamamoto tried to climb over lawmakers to stop the passing of an anti-refugee law through Japan's Upper House (via <a href="https://twitter.com/mrjeffu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mrjeffu</a>) <a href="https://t.co/HuPTMXvDef">pic.twitter.com/HuPTMXvDef</a></p>
— Populism Updates (@PopulismUpdates) <a href="https://twitter.com/PopulismUpdates/status/1666913622885535744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>By the end of the initial question-and-answer session, the opposition leaders once again started making noise as they gathered around&nbsp;Hisatake Sugi, the chairman of the committee, to impede the passing of the law.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Despite the chaos, the bill, which overhauls immigration rules and rolls back the long-term detention of asylum-seekers passed a key Upper House committee.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-enacts-law-to-tackle-loneliness-and-social-isolation-599527"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Japan enacts law to tackle loneliness and social isolation</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Second attempt to get the bill passed</strong></h2>

<p>This was the second attempt in the Japanese parliament to get the bill cleared. The previous attempt in February 2021 had to be abandoned&nbsp;amid a public outcry over the death of 33-year-old Sri Lankan asylum seeker named&nbsp;Ratnayake Liyanage Wishma Sandamali.</p>

<p>Sandamali, reportedly died in an immigration detention centre as subsequent investigations revealed that officers intentionally denied her request for provisional release. Moreover, the officers believed that she was faking her illness to get out.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-millions-in-japan-told-to-take-immediate-cover-582258"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: Millions in Japan told to take immediate cover</strong></a></p>

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<p>Amnesty International has opposed the Japanese government's proposed changes to the immigration bill.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Migrants have painted a grim picture of what it’s like to claim refugee status in Japan. Far from being helped in their hour of need, they speak of being subjected to arbitrary, endless detention in prison-like immigration facilities,” said Hideaki Nakagawa, Director of Amnesty International Japan.</p>

<p>Notably, this was not the first instance when a scuffle broke out in the Japanese parliament. In 2015, members of the opposition and the ruling coalition pushed and shoved each other during a heated debate over a security bill that batted for the military fighting abroad.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


In scenes uncommon for Japan’s normally sedate parliament, the left-wing lawmakers engaged in a brawl with other parliamentarians in an attempt to block a controversial immigration bill, the New York Post reported.

In scenes uncommon for Japan’s normally sedate parliament, the left-wing lawmakers engaged in a brawl with other parliamentarians in an attempt to block a controversial immigration bill, the New York Post reported. The Liberal Democratic Party as well as two opposition parties, the Democratic Party for the People and Nippon Ishin no Kai voted in favour of the bill. However, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) and the Japanese Communist Party (JCP) opposed the legislation saying it did nothing to protect the rights of asylum-seekers as well as improving the current treatment of detainees stuck at immigration facilities. Though the protest started off ordinarily, Taro Yamamoto, an actor and leader of the Reiwa party, soon jumped onto the crowd, seemingly trying to reach the discussion table. “Steamrolling this bill is unacceptable. That’s why we demand that it be withdrawn and that thorough deliberations be conducted,” said Sohei Nihia, a JCP member during the debate. "Battle Royale" actor and left-wing populist Reiwa party leader Taro Yamamoto tried to climb over lawmakers to stop the passing of an anti-refugee law through Japan's Upper House (via @mrjeffu) pic.twitter.com/HuPTMXvDef — Populism Updates (@PopulismUpdates) June 8, 2023 × By the end of the initial question-and-answer session, the opposition leaders once again started making noise as they gathered around Hisatake Sugi, the chairman of the committee, to impede the passing of the law. Despite the chaos, the bill, which overhauls immigration rules and rolls back the long-term detention of asylum-seekers passed a key Upper House committee. Also read | Japan enacts law to tackle loneliness and social isolation Second attempt to get the bill passed This was the second attempt in the Japanese parliament to get the bill cleared. The previous attempt in February 2021 had to be abandoned amid a public outcry over the death of 33-year-old Sri Lankan asylum seeker named Ratnayake Liyanage Wishma Sandamali. Sandamali, reportedly died in an immigration detention centre as subsequent investigations revealed that officers intentionally denied her request for provisional release. Moreover, the officers believed that she was faking her illness to get out. WATCH | Gravitas: Millions in Japan told to take immediate cover × Amnesty International has opposed the Japanese government's proposed changes to the immigration bill. “Migrants have painted a grim picture of what it’s like to claim refugee status in Japan. Far from being helped in their hour of need, they speak of being subjected to arbitrary, endless detention in prison-like immigration facilities,” said Hideaki Nakagawa, Director of Amnesty International Japan. Notably, this was not the first instance when a scuffle broke out in the Japanese parliament. In 2015, members of the opposition and the ruling coalition pushed and shoved each other during a heated debate over a security bill that batted for the military fighting abroad. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Watch | Lawmakers spar and scuffle in Japanese parliament over controversial refugee bill

A Japanese lawmaker has been expelled from the country's parliament after he never attended any of its sessions. Yoshikazu Higashitani, a celebrity gossip YouTuber turned MP, has found himself in an unlikely position after he remained missing from the House of Councillors for over seven months.

Japanese parliament expels YouTuber-turned-MP who never came to work

<p>Japan has approved the biggest ever defence spending in its history as part of the $839 billion budget for 2023. The new budget, which was approved by the Japanese parliament, included an allocation of $51 billion for the defence ministry – over 30 per cent more than the previous year.</p>

<p>The main reason behind the rise in defence spending can be attributed to the rise of nuclear missile tests by North Korea. The missiles have breached the border of Japan on multiple occasions and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida can be looking to bolster their defence for any such transgressions.</p>

<p>Earlier, Japan also approved a new security strategy which will allow an increase of around two per cent of GDP in defence spending by 2027. The other reason behind this step is to meet the NATO member guidelines – something that almost major member have adhered to in the recent past.</p>

<p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/capitol-hill-attack-probe-committee-releases-report-clearly-says-trump-sparked-riots-545725">Trump sparked riots, says January 6 Capitol Hill attack probe panel report</a></p>

<p>Reuters reported that around $1.5 billion will be used to buy Tomahawk cruise missiles from the United States while more than $80 million will be used to produce surface-to-ship missiles.</p>

<p>Media reports also claimed that the budget report described Beijing as "the greatest strategic challenge ever to securing the peace and stability of Japan" and a "serious concern" for the international community. The main aim for Japan will be to increase its "counterstrike capacity".</p>

<p>"We plan to acquire all the Tomahawk missiles we need in the next fiscal year," a defence ministry official told reporters on the condition of anonymity according to Reuters.<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Japan has approved the biggest ever defence spending in its history as part of the $839 billion budget for 2023. The new budget, which was approved by the Japanese parliament, included an allocation of $51 billion for the defence ministry – over 30 per cent more than the previous year.

Japan has approved the biggest ever defence spending in its history as part of the $839 billion budget for 2023. The new budget, which was approved by the Japanese parliament, included an allocation of $51 billion for the defence ministry – over 30 per cent more than the previous year. The main reason behind the rise in defence spending can be attributed to the rise of nuclear missile tests by North Korea. The missiles have breached the border of Japan on multiple occasions and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida can be looking to bolster their defence for any such transgressions. Earlier, Japan also approved a new security strategy which will allow an increase of around two per cent of GDP in defence spending by 2027. The other reason behind this step is to meet the NATO member guidelines – something that almost major member have adhered to in the recent past. Also read | Trump sparked riots, says January 6 Capitol Hill attack probe panel report Reuters reported that around $1.5 billion will be used to buy Tomahawk cruise missiles from the United States while more than $80 million will be used to produce surface-to-ship missiles. Media reports also claimed that the budget report described Beijing as "the greatest strategic challenge ever to securing the peace and stability of Japan" and a "serious concern" for the international community. The main aim for Japan will be to increase its "counterstrike capacity". "We plan to acquire all the Tomahawk missiles we need in the next fiscal year," a defence ministry official told reporters on the condition of anonymity according to Reuters. (With inputs from agencies)

Japanese parliament approves record defence spending in latest budget

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Watch | Lawmakers spar and scuffle in Japanese parliament over controversial refugee bill

Japanese parliament expels YouTuber-turned-MP who never came to work

Japanese parliament approves record defence spending in latest budget