Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has announced his resignation after less than a year in office, following two significant election defeats
The decision comes a day before his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) was expected to consider an internal leadership vote that could have pressured him to step down.
Under Ishiba, the LDP lost its majority in the lower house for the first time in 15 years and subsequently lost control of the upper house in July. The party has dominated Japanese politics for most of the past seven decades.
Japan, the world’s fourth-largest economy and a key US ally, now faces political uncertainty amid rising tensions with China and growing regional security concerns.
Ishiba cited the recent resolution of US tariff negotiations as the right moment to resign, referring to a deal signed last week to ease tariffs on Japanese cars and other exports imposed by US President Donald Trump.
“Now that a conclusion has been reached in the negotiations concerning the US tariff measures, I believe this is precisely the appropriate time,” he said. Until recently, he had resisted calls to resign, insisting it was his responsibility to settle the dispute with Washington first.
The 68-year-old added he would continue to serve “to the people” until a successor is chosen. The LDP is now tasked with selecting a new leader, who will become prime minister following a parliamentary vote.
Ishiba, who assumed office in October 2024 promising to tackle rising prices, struggled to maintain public confidence amid economic challenges, a cost-of-living crisis, and tensions with the US. Inflation, including a doubling of rice prices over the past year, compounded his difficulties.
His popularity further declined following controversies such as appointing only two women to his cabinet and giving expensive gifts to party members.
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