The National Diet (Japanese: Kokkai) is Japan’s national legislature. It has two directly elected houses: the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors, also commonly called the Senate in English.

The Diet passes laws and formally nominates Japan’s prime minister. Its two houses meet in the National Diet Building in Nagatachō, Tokyo. The institution took its current form in 1947 under Japan’s post-war constitution.

In the news, the Diet is where Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and other ministers attend parliamentary sessions, which can require substantial time.