JAPANESE Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called for unity to achieve political stability and the strengthening of the country’s military yesterday after his coalition won a majority in the upper house.  

He promised to use his new election mandate to achieve the goals of his predecessor Shinzo Abe who was assassinated at an election rally last Friday. 

This includes updating the “war-renouncing” Japanese constitution, one of the main aims of Mr Abe who was keen to end the constitutional ban on Japan sending troops to fight abroad.

Mr Kishida’s governing Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner Komeito won 146 seats in the 248-seat upper chamber, the less powerful of parliament’s two houses on Sunday.

“Because we’ve lost a great leader, undeniably we could be affected in many ways,” the PM said. “Our party must unite as we face difficult issues.

“At a time of security and economic challenges in and outside Japan, Abe’s death is most regrettable. We will inherit his will and tackle the issues he had to leave unachieved,” Mr Kishida said. 

An amendment to the constitution requires a two-thirds majority in the upper house which the coalition now has.