Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba announces resignation after election losses

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced his resignation on September 7, 2025, after less than a year in office, following a series of significant electoral defeats for his ruling party.

He made this announcement in a press conference: “I have consistently said that one should not cling to office, and that the right decision should be made at the appropriate time after fulfilling one’s responsibilities.”

Ishiba’s party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), lost its majority in both houses in two elections, one held in October 2024 and the other in July 2025. Voters have expressed concerns over corruption scandals, rising living costs, and high prices, especially for rice.

The LDP’s conservative faction was already pushing him to step down and planned to hold an early leadership election on September 8, 2025, effectively a no-confidence vote against his leadership.

Initially, Ishiba resisted calls to resign to complete a US trade deal reducing tariffs. After securing the agreement, he said the time was right to step down.

He said, “I felt that this matter had reached a significant milestone… I have decided to step aside and pass the baton to the next leader.”

However, Ishiba will remain prime minister until the LDP selects a new leader, who will become Japan’s next prime minister after a parliamentary vote.

The new leader will face challenges governing without a majority in either house of parliament, requiring cooperation with opposition parties to pass laws.

The LDP has dominated Japanese politics for most of the past 70 years. Ishiba’s resignation marks a turbulent time for Japan, and the choice of the next leader will be crucial for the country’s future.

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