Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has announced his resignation after serving less than a year, following two major election defeats that cost his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) its long-held dominance.
The announcement came just a day before the LDP was set to decide on holding an internal leadership vote that could have forced him out. Under Ishiba’s leadership, the party lost its majority in the lower house for the first time in 15 years, and then its majority in the upper house in July.
Japan, the world’s fourth-largest economy and a crucial US ally, now faces political uncertainty at a time of rising tensions with China and increasing regional insecurity.
“Now that a conclusion has been reached in the negotiations concerning the US tariff measures, I believe this is precisely the appropriate time,” Ishiba said, referencing a trade deal struck last week to ease tariffs imposed by then-US President Donald Trump on Japanese cars and other exports.
Until Sunday, Ishiba had resisted calls to step down, insisting it was his responsibility to resolve the tariff dispute before resigning. “I have strongly believed that negotiations concerning the US tariff measures, which could be described as a national crisis, must be brought to a conclusion under our administration’s responsibility,” he added.
The 68-year-old said he would continue serving “the people” until a successor is chosen. The LDP will now select a new leader, who will automatically become prime minister after a parliamentary vote.
Ishiba took office in October 2024, pledging to tackle rising prices, but his administration quickly lost public confidence amid economic challenges, a cost-of-living crisis, and strained relations with Washington. Inflation—particularly the doubling of rice prices over the past year—proved politically damaging.
His popularity sank further after controversies including appointing only two women to his cabinet and being accused of giving costly gifts to party members.
