June 28, 2010
Tokyo, June 28 (Jiji Press) -- A new office building for Japanese House of Councilors members, criticized as a waste of taxpayer money, was completed and opened to the media on Monday before it becomes operational on July 1.
The new building, with a total floor space of 96,000 square meters, some three times larger than the currently used building, has 12 stories above ground and three below.
Located behind the Diet, or parliament, building, it has 242 lawmaker rooms, equal to the number of seats in the Upper House.
The rooms are equipped with a reception room, a secretarial office, a meeting area and also a hidden door that enables lawmakers to go in and out without attracting attention. Each set of rooms covers some 100 square meters, considerably larger than the current 40 square meters.
Coffee shops and convenience stores are slated to open in the basement, and a walkway to Nagatacho subway station will also be built.
(2010/06/28-22:13)
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