Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is expected to resign following his party’s poor performance in last week’s elections, signaling deepening political instability as nationalist movements gain ground across the country.
Ishiba, who has held office for less than a year, has struggled to maintain public support during his brief tenure. His resignation would mark another blow to Japan’s long-dominant Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has governed for most of the past seven decades but now finds itself increasingly on the defensive.
In Sunday’s election to the upper house, the House of Councillors, the LDP and its coalition partner Komeito lost their majority — a setback that follows the earlier loss of control in the more powerful House of Representatives last year. The results underscore a shift in voter sentiment, as nationalist and populist parties, particularly Sanseito, make significant inroads with their anti-immigration and “Japanese first” rhetoric.
The LDP has faced mounting criticism over its handling of key domestic issues, including an aging population, persistent inflation, and immigration policy. These challenges have left the door open for more hardline parties to capitalize on discontent.
Despite the election outcome, Ishiba initially signaled his intent to stay in power, reaffirming his commitment to pursue a trade deal with the United States. He told reporters earlier this week that he would discuss the deal with his trade envoy, Ryosei Akazawa, following Akazawa’s return from Washington.
The proposed trade agreement would see Japan invest $550 billion in the United States, while the Trump administration would reduce tariffs on Japanese imports from a threatened 25% to 15%. In return, Japan would open more of its markets to U.S. exports, including automobiles, rice, and other agricultural products. Former President Donald Trump hailed the deal on social media, calling it “perhaps the largest deal ever made.”
Ishiba is expected to consult with several of his predecessors — Taro Aso, Yoshihide Suga, and Fumio Kishida — in the coming days to determine the timeline and process for his resignation.
The looming leadership change adds further uncertainty to Japan’s political landscape at a time of growing domestic and international challenges. The LDP now faces urgent questions about its future direction and how it plans to counter the surging popularity of nationalist forces ahead of the next general election.
