What is the House of Councilors in Japan? Most Japanese people would promptly reply
that it is the “chamber of wisdom”. However, what does this “chamber of wisdom” mean?
Few are able to answer this question. In fact, the Reiwa Shinsengumi party’s announcement
of their Reiwa rotation system sparked a chaotic wave of legal and political commentaries,
both in favor and opposed. These discussions on the Reiwa rotation symbolically implied
that there were not the essential considerations of the House of Councilors in Japan.
This article provides an opportunity to consider the essential issues of the House of
Councilors and the bicameral system in Japan in the context of the Reiwa rotation. It
consists of three sections. The first section explains the constitutional issues inherent in
the Reiwa rotation. The second section explores the background of the constitutional issues
presented by this Reiwa rotation system. In a sense, this issue is obliging us to resolve
constitutional problems that we seem to have unconsciously neglected and left unaddressed.
Finally, the third section offers a response to the inquiry of how the House of Councilors
should be constitutionally positioned. Now is the time to delve into the mystery of the House
of Councilors through these discussionsdepartmental bulletin pape