According to the media, the Government of Japan is targeting to convene the ordinary Diet session on either 20 or 23 January, 2017, as the extended extraordinary Diet session was just closed on 17 December. Many crucial bills, including those related to the draft 2017 fiscal budget and Emperor's abdication, are lined up to be deliberated during the session.  It is said that the possibility of dissolving the House of Representatives is decreasing, considering Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's planned visit to Australia and South East Asia as well as the US in January in addition to the tight Diet session schedule.  For more details, please check the link to Nikkei Shimbun article below. (Japanese only)