Japan's rival parties have held a policy debate, a day before campaign for July's upper house elections. The two-hour debate focused on Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's economic policies, tax hike delays and constitutional reforms. Abe admitted the insufficiency of his economic policies and vowed to do better over the next two and half years.

Opposition Democratic Party leader Katsuya Okada criticised Abe's eagerness to amend the constitution, saying Japan is at a "turning point" regarding its commitment to pacifism.