JAPAN – The Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has resigned after his ruling coalition lost the upper house election according to local reports on Sunday. This comes just under an year since he became the PM.

Ishiba has faced criticism from within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) following its defeat in the Upper House election on July 20.

On Tuesday, during a joint plenary meeting of lawmakers from both houses of parliament, Ishiba apologized for the election result.

“It is my responsibility as president of the LDP, and I cannot evade that,” said Ishiba, adding that he has “no intention to cling to” his post and will “make a proper decision at the appropriate time.”

Following his election defeat, Ishiba previously rejected multiple calls from within his party to step down, signaling his intention to stay in office.

Ishiba, who became the prime minister last October, had vowed to address inflation and push for party reforms. The LDP has been mired in a string of political fundraising scandals.

Not long after he assumed office, the LDP and its coalition partner Komeito lost their majority in the Lower House election, and in July, the coalition also failed to secure a majority in the Upper House.

With mounting pressure on Ishiba to take responsibility for the setback, the LDP was expected to decide on Monday whether to hold an emergency leadership race.

Shigeru Ishiba became the third Japanese prime minister to resign in just five years, following Yoshihide Suga and Fumio Kishida.

Suga, who took office in September 2020 after Shinzo Abe’s resignation, stepped down in October 2021 amid falling approval ratings and criticism over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kishida succeeded him in October 2021, promising economic recovery and political reforms, but scandals involving political funding and ties with the Unification Church, along with public dissatisfaction, weakened his position, leading to his resignation in August 2024.

Ishiba assumed the premiership in October 2024, vowing to tackle inflation and reform party politics. Yet his tenure was beset by electoral defeats: the coalition lost its lower house majority soon after he took office, and in July 2025, it failed to secure a majority in the upper house.

Facing mounting pressure, Ishiba announced his resignation on Sept. 7, 2025, after just 11 months in office.