Story highlights The lower house of parliament passes new security legislation

Thousands of people protest outside in pouring rain

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants Japan to take a greater role in overseas conflicts

Tokyo (CNN) Japan on Thursday moved closer to enabling its military to take a more active role in conflicts overseas as lawmakers passed legislation that has stirred strong resistance after seven decades of pacifism.

Thousands of people protesting the change gathered in pouring rain outside parliament, where members of the lower house voted to approve a set of bills backed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

Opposition parties boycotted the vote. The bills will now move to the upper house of parliament, where Abe's coalition holds a majority.

The Prime Minister has been trying to make Japan, a key U.S. ally, more assertive militarily. Last year, he sanctioned a reinterpretation of the country's pacifist post- World War II constitution, drawing widespread protests.

The bills going through parliament at the moment will allow the Japanese military, known as the Self-Defense Forces, to join its allies in a limited role in conflicts abroad.

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