Photo/Illutration Yoshikazu Higashitani's name is unlit on the nameboard of lawmakers, indicating his absence, during the extraordinary Diet session on Aug. 3. (Koichi Ueda)

Japan’s Upper House has rejected a request from a recently elected opposition lawmaker to remain overseas when the chamber next meets.

The NHK Party’s Yoshikazu Higashitani, a YouTuber known by the name GaaSyy, submitted a notice that said he is currently staying in the United Arab Emirates and will be absent from the three-day extraordinary session that started on Aug. 3.

Executives of the Upper House steering committee unanimously agreed they would not grant permission for him to remain overseas and called on him to return to Japan to attend the session.

Higashitani, a rookie lawmaker who won his seat for the first time in the Upper House election held July 10, said in his notice that he has been in the UAE since July 26 for a political and economic study, according to sources.

A member of the steering committee said that he provided “no convincing reasons” as to why he should remain abroad.

“It’s unthinkable that the trip would have priority over the extraordinary Diet session,” the member said.

Despite the denial of his request, he still failed to appear for the start of the session.

On Aug. 3, Higashitani’s nameboard in the Diet remained unlit because he is still absent.

Higashitani has expressed hesitancy toward returning to Japan.

He said in an interview with The Asahi Shimbun’s Dubai bureau that he would be arrested by police on suspicion of fraud or for other charges if he enters the country.

Takashi Tachibana, the head of the NHK Party, also known as the anti-NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corp.) party, told reporters Higashitani will not return to Japan until the extraordinary Diet session in the fall.

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