Japan’s Lower House OKs revised pension reform bill

The House of Representatives on Friday approved a revised pension reform bill that calls for a measure to shore up basic pension benefits.

The bill passed the lower chamber during a plenary meeting by a majority vote, with support from the ruling camp and the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan. The bill is expected to be enacted during the current session of parliament ending in June after being sent to the House of Councilors.

The level of basic pension benefits for all citizens is expected to decrease by about 30% in three decades due to the country’s shrinking and aging population.

The revised bill, submitted jointly by the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito, plus the CDP, features a supplementary provision that calls for shoring up basic pension benefits through the use of reserve funds from the kōsei nenkin public pension program for corporate and government workers that pay additional benefits, if the 2029 review of public pension finances predicts a significant decrease in basic pension benefits.

The government initially sought to include a basic pension improvement plan in the pension reform bill but eventually dropped it following criticism among some LDP members that the planned measure would be a misappropriation of kōsei nenkin funds.

The government came under fire for the removal of the improvement plan. This led the LDP and Komeito to accept a CDP proposal to revise the bill to put back the plan.

Read more: Important Changes to the Nenkin Refund Law for Foreigners in Japan (Updated May 16, 2025)

Thank you for taking the time to read this article. If you found the content helpful, please don’t forget to share it with your family and friends so they can also stay informed about the latest updates on Nenkin refund rights.

If you need specific advice on the Nenkin refund procedure or related services, don’t hesitate to contact HSB JAPAN for quick and professional support.

HSB JAPAN Co., LTD

〒130-0026

東京都墨田区両国1-3-12 (925両国第2ビル)

 Email: tax_pension@hsbjapan.com

 Tel / fax: 03-5937-2465

#HSBJAPANN #nenkinrefund #pensionlumpsum #taxrefund #japan