Ishiba resigns as Japan PM after election loss, pledges handover to younger generation

Shigeru Ishiba, the prime minister of Japan, has announced his resignation after less than a year in office, following back-to-back election defeats that stripped his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of its dominance in parliament.

The 68-year-old leader confirmed on Sunday that he would step down as president of the LDP, a move that will automatically end his premiership once the party elects a successor. His decision comes a day before the LDP was expected to hold a leadership vote that could have forced him out.

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Under Ishiba, the party suffered its worst setbacks in a generation — losing its majority in the lower house for the first time in 15 years, and then losing control of the upper house in July. The defeats marked a sharp reversal for a party that has governed Japan for most of the past seven decades.

“I would like to pass the baton to the next generation,” Ishiba told reporters in Tokyo, framing his departure as an opportunity for renewal. He said he had chosen this moment to step down because a key deal with the United States over trade tariffs had finally been concluded.

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“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. “I have strongly believed that these negotiations, which could be described as a national crisis, must be brought to a conclusion under our administration’s responsibility.”

Ishiba had previously resisted calls to resign, arguing that his duty was to resolve the tariff dispute with Washington before considering his own position. The agreement, signed last week, eases US tariffs on Japanese cars and other exports, an issue that had dominated his premiership.

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The LDP will now select a new leader, who will be confirmed as prime minister through a vote in parliament. The leadership race is expected to open a fresh chapter in Japanese politics but also risks deepening instability in the world’s fourth-largest economy.

Ishiba, who took office in October 2024 promising to tackle inflation and stabilise Japan’s fragile economy, struggled to build confidence during a turbulent tenure. Soaring living costs — especially a doubling of rice prices in the past year — fuelled public anger.

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His approval ratings slid further after controversies, including criticism over his appointment of only two women to his cabinet and allegations that he had distributed costly gifts to party members.
Despite the mounting pressure, Ishiba insisted that he would continue to carry out his duties “to the people” until a new leader is chosen.