TOKYO - The English name for the upper house in Japan's parliament will be changed to the Senate from the House of Councillors to clearly convey that its members are nationally elected lawmakers, the chamber's committee decided Thursday.
The change, decided by the upper house committee on rules and administration, is expected to be rolled out gradually. The government will be asked to revise the English name in official documents, while the wording in lawmakers' official passports and the chamber's website will be updated in stages.
In line with the change, members of the 248-seat chamber will be referred to as senators.
According to the upper house secretariat, Senate was chosen as it is a commonly used English name for the upper chambers of many bicameral legislatures.
The upper house is less powerful than the 465-seat House of Representatives. Its members serve six-year terms, with half of its seats contested in elections held every three years.
