TOKYO - Japan's Prime Minister Taro Aso easily survived a no confidence vote Tuesday in the lower house, which is controlled by his party, but still faced a censure motion in the opposition-held upper house.

The lower chamber voted down the no confidence motion by 333 to 139 votes. The upper house, dominated by the opposition Democratic Party of Japan, was separately preparing to vote on a censure motion against Aso that was seen as almost certain to be passed.

The motion carries no legal force but would be another embarrassment for Aso, whose party risks being swept from power next month. The last time the upper house passed a censure motion was in June last year against Aso's predecessor Yasuo Fukuda, who stepped down a few months later.

Battered by a key local election at the weekend, Aso on Monday called a general election for August 30, despite the prospect of defeat.