Shigeru Ishiba vows to stay after election defeat, even as party criticism and opposition momentum grow rapidly. On Monday, the embattled prime minister insisted he would continue leading the country through rising economic and political challenges.
At a press conference, Ishiba highlighted his focus on key national issues. These include pressing tariff negotiations with the United States and battling the continued surge in consumer prices. Japan’s economy, the world’s fourth largest, remains under strain.
However, Ishiba’s political standing now looks increasingly vulnerable. His ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior partner Komeito won only 47 seats. They needed 50 to maintain a majority in the 248-seat upper house. Since half of the seats were contested, the loss marks a significant blow.
Furthermore, Ishiba lost control of the lower house during last year’s elections. Since then, public confidence in his leadership has steadily declined. As a result, many voters turned to opposition parties pledging lower taxes and tighter immigration controls.
According to analysts, Ishiba may not remain in office for long. “The political situation is fluid,” said Norihiro Yamaguchi, lead economist at Oxford Economics. “But Shigeru Ishiba vows to stay after election defeat in order to finalize U.S. tariff talks.”
Nevertheless, internal dissent is growing. Former Prime Minister Taro Aso, a key figure in the LDP, questioned Ishiba’s ability to stay on. Meanwhile, senior party leaders reportedly met Sunday night to discuss possible leadership changes.
At the same time, opposition parties are pressing harder. Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDPJ), hinted at a no-confidence vote. He argued that the election result showed clear public rejection of Ishiba’s leadership. The CDPJ finished second with 22 seats.
In contrast, the far-right Sanseito party surged unexpectedly. It increased its representation from one seat to fifteen. This significant rise signals growing polarization and dissatisfaction among the electorate.
On Monday morning, frustration echoed through Tokyo’s Shinjuku Station. “If they solved even one issue, approval would rise,” said 60-year-old voter Hideaki Matsuda. “But we felt nothing at all.”
Additionally, pressure continues to mount from abroad. Japan’s chief negotiator Ryosei Akazawa departed for Washington again on Monday. This marked his eighth visit in just three months. With U.S. auto tariffs scheduled to begin August 1, urgency is rising.
Meanwhile, financial markets began reacting. Although Japanese markets were closed for a holiday, the yen gained slightly. Nikkei futures ticked upward, yet government bond yields dropped sharply before the election.
Shigeru Ishiba vows to stay after election defeat, but signs of political turbulence are everywhere. Although he appears determined to lead, both internal resistance and external pressures now threaten his grip on power.
