Japan's biggest intelligence reform since WWII: 5 things to know

New legislation brings Tokyo closer to establishing equivalent of CIA

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a discussion on the bill to establish the National Intelligence Council at the House of Councillors in Tokyo on May 8. (Photo by Ken Suzuki)

TOKYO -- Japan has moved closer to creating a centralized national intelligence agency -- often described as its equivalent to the CIA -- after the upper house approved legislation on Wednesday, following lower house passage in April.