What is the upper house of Japan's National Diet called?

The upper house of Japan's National Diet is called the House of Councillors. In Japanese, it is known as the Sangiin, and it forms the upper chamber of Japan's bicameral national legislature.

The House of Councillors was established under Japan's postwar Constitution, which took effect in 1947. Its members serve six-year terms, but elections are staggered so that half the chamber is normally elected every three years. This gives the house continuity even when political control changes.

Japan's lower house is the House of Representatives, which generally has stronger authority in areas such as choosing the prime minister, passing budgets, and approving treaties. The House of Councillors can review and amend legislation, but the lower house can override it in some circumstances, including with a two-thirds majority for ordinary bills.

The name can cause confusion because the prewar upper chamber was called the House of Peers. That body was replaced after World War II; House of Delegates is not the name of either chamber of Japan's modern Diet.