Suu Kyi visits Japanese parliament

Suu Kyi visits Japanese parliament

TOKYO, Japan - Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi holds talks with Kenji Hirata, president of the House of Councillors, at the Diet building in Tokyo on April 16, 2013.

Suu Kyi visits Japanese parliament

Suu Kyi visits Japanese parliament

TOKYO, Japan - Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi (R) shakes hands with Kenji Hirata, president of the House of Councillors, at the Diet building in Tokyo on April 16, 2013.

DPJ's Hirata to become upper house president

DPJ's Hirata to become upper house president

TOKYO, Japan - Kenji Hirata, secretary general of the governing Democratic Party of Japan's upper house caucus, speaks with reporters in the Diet building in Tokyo on Nov. 11, 2011. DPJ lawmakers said the same day that the House of Councillors is expected to elect Hirata as its president Nov. 14, succeeding Takeo Nishioka who died Nov. 5.

Opposition introduces censure motion against Fukuda

Opposition introduces censure motion against Fukuda

TOKYO, Japan - Kenji Hirata (3rd from L) of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan, hands to House of Councillors President Satsuki Eda (R) a nonbinding censure motion against Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda in the Diet on June 11. The DPJ and two smaller opposition parties have criticized Fukuda's handling of elderly healthcare insurance and other domestic problems.

Opposition introduces censure motion against Fukuda

Opposition introduces censure motion against Fukuda

TOKYO, Japan - Kenji Hirata (3rd from L) of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan, hands to House of Councillors President Satsuki Eda (R) a nonbinding censure motion against Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda in the Diet on June 11. The DPJ and two smaller opposition parties have criticized Fukuda's handling of elderly healthcare insurance and other domestic problems. (Kyodo)

DPJ's Hirata to become upper house president

DPJ's Hirata to become upper house president

TOKYO, Japan - Kenji Hirata, secretary general of the governing Democratic Party of Japan's upper house caucus, speaks with reporters in the Diet building in Tokyo on Nov. 11, 2011. DPJ lawmakers said the same day that the House of Councillors is expected to elect Hirata as its president Nov. 14, succeeding Takeo Nishioka who died Nov. 5. (Kyodo)