Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba declared his intention to remain in office on Sunday, July 20, 2025, after the ruling Liberal Democratic Party was projected to lose its upper house majority in today's election.
When asked by a reporter if he intended to remain as prime minister and leader of the ruling party, Ishiba said "yes," in a joint press conference at the party headquarters in Tokyo while vote counting was still underway.
"We are engaged in very important tariff negotiations with the United States...we must not ruin these negotiations," Ishiba said, as reported by Al Arabiya.
Japan's ruling coalition is likely to lose its upper house majority, according to post-election polls. This could potentially trigger political turmoil as the tariff deadline with the United States approaches.
While the vote does not directly determine whether Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's shaky minority government will fall, it does put pressure on the embattled leader, who also lost control of the more powerful lower house in October.
Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner, Komeito, need 50 seats to maintain control of the 248-member upper house in the half-contested election. They are projected to secure 32 to 51 seats, according to exit polls by public broadcaster NHK, as cited by CNA.
Another press release predicted the ruling coalition would win 41 to 43 seats. If the coalition wins fewer than 46 seats, it would mark its worst result since its formation in 1999.
This follows its worst result in 15 years in the October lower house election, a vote that left Ishiba's government vulnerable to a no-confidence motion and calls from within his own party for a leadership change.
Opposition parties advocating tax cuts and tighter immigration policies appear to be making gains, according to exit polls, with rising consumer prices—particularly the surge in rice prices—a key issue for voters.
"The LDP has largely played defense in this election, being on the wrong side of voters' key issues," said David Boling, a director at the consulting firm Eurasia Group.
"Polls show that most households want a consumption tax cut to combat inflation, something the LDP opposes. Opposition parties are capitalizing on that and emphasizing that message."
The LDP has been pushing for fiscal tightening, focusing on the highly volatile government bond market, as investors worry about Japan's ability to refinance the world's largest debt.
Adding to the anxiety surrounding the world's fourth-largest economy, Japan faces an August 1 deadline to reach a trade deal with the United States or face heavy tariffs in its largest export market.
The populist Sanseito party appears to be one of the night's big winners, projected to win 10 to 15 seats in the assembly, up from just one it previously held.
Sanseito's 'Japanese First' campaign and warnings about a "silent invasion" of foreigners have brought once-fringe political rhetoric into the mainstream.
"I'm in graduate school, but there are no Japanese people around me. They're all foreigners," said Yu Nagai, a 25-year-old university student who voted in Sanseito the previous Sunday.
"When I see how compensation and money are spent on foreigners, I feel like Japanese people are being disrespected," Nagai said after casting his ballot at a polling station in Tokyo's Shinjuku district.
Editor's Choice: PM Shigeru Ishiba Confirms Japan's Participation in Indonesia's Muara Laboh Power Plant Development
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Cities with Most Michelin-Starred Restaurants; Japan Dominates
8 jam lalu
A Michelin Star is a prestigious ranking given to restaurants that meet the strict culinary standards of the Michelin Guide.
Trump's Tariff Pressure Pushes Vietnam and Japan to Shift to U.S. LNG
1 hari lalu
Asian countries have turned to U.S. LNG under pressure from Trump's tariff policies, even though their existing energy supplies are adequate.
Minister Denies Indonesian Migrant Workers Broke Laws in Japan
2 hari lalu
Recent reports claimed that three Indonesian citizens involved in legal cases in Japan are Indonesian migrant workers.
Japanese Hotel Offers Quirky Service for Doll Enthusiasts
2 hari lalu
The service at this hotel emerged alongside the nuikatsu or living with dolls trend, which is trending on Japanese social media.
Former Presidents and Prime Ministers Around the World Who Reached 100
2 hari lalu
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad turned 100 years old on Thursday, July 10, 2025.
UK to Lower Voting Age to 16 in England and Northern Ireland
2 hari lalu
The UK will lower the voting age to 16 in England and Northern Ireland, aligning rules across the country ahead of the next general election.
Japan Forms Special Agency to Further Address Tourism Impacts
3 hari lalu
By mid-2025, Japan had received 21.5 million foreign tourists, 21 percent higher than the previous year.
Chinese Court Sentences Japanese Man to 3.5 Years in Prison on Spying Charges
3 hari lalu
A Chinese court sentenced a Japanese man to three and a half years in prison on Wednesday on espionage charges.
Multiple Global Public Officials Involved in Fake Diploma Scandals; Japanese Mayor Resigns
3 hari lalu
Allegations of fake diplomas have affected public officials in Japan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkey.
Indonesian Govt Still Reviewing Top Court's Ruling on Election Separation, Minister Says
4 hari lalu
Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian is convinced that there is still enough time to be cautious in responding to the Constitutional Court's decision on the separation of national and local elections.
