Japan Faces Leadership Turmoil as Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba Resigns

Mon Oct 20 2025 19:09:52 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Shigeru Ishiba's resignation after less than a year in office sets the stage for Japan's fourth prime minister in five years amidst ongoing political challenges and public dissatisfaction.

Japan is gearing up for another leadership contest following the resignation of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba after a series of election defeats. This marks the fourth change in the role in five years, underlining significant challenges faced by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), including rising inflation, cost of living issues, and a government lacking parliamentary majority. Potential candidates for Ishiba's successor include former party members Shinjiro Koizumi, Yoshimasa Hayashi, and Sanae Takaichi, each carrying unique political agendas amid a landscape increasingly influenced by far-right sentiments.

Japan Faces Leadership Turmoil as Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba Resigns

Shigeru Ishiba has announced his resignation as Prime Minister of Japan after fewer than twelve months in office, following significant losses during mid-term elections.

Ishiba's departure comes just a day before a crucial vote within the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), where he was likely to be ousted. This situation now triggers yet another leadership contest in Tokyo, the third such contest in five years, in addition to two national elections that resulted in leaders not completing their terms.

The new leader will confront formidable challenges, including managing strained US-Japan relations, addressing rising inflation and cost of living crises, and regaining a majority in both parliamentary houses.

Why did Ishiba resign?

Initially resistant, Ishiba stepped down amid growing pressure for accountability related to the LDP's electoral failures and a forthcoming internal vote that could have forced him out. He described the environment as untenable, stating, 'the writing was on the wall.'

Numerous voters expressed dissatisfaction with Ishiba as a leader, particularly in light of ongoing crises stemming from a corruption scandal involving LDP members and economic difficulties. This crisis of confidence was illustrated in the LDP's worst electoral performance in over a decade, losing its single-party majority.

Who might be the country’s next leader?

The LDP is expected to elect a new leader in early October, with potential candidates including Shinjiro Koizumi, Yoshimasa Hayashi, and Sanae Takaichi. Each candidate offers different political views: Koizumi, the youthful agricultural minister, enjoys popularity; Hayashi serves as chief cabinet secretary; and Takaichi could break barriers as Japan’s first female prime minister but holds conservative views.

What challenges will the next leader face?

The incoming leader must unite a fragmented party and reclaim voter trust amidst an escalating cost of living crisis and an increasingly competently far-right opposition, especially following the recent gains by the nationalist Sanseito party.

Why does Japan see so many PMs?

Japan has experienced over ten prime ministers in the last two decades, a situation exacerbated by its one-party democratic structure that leads to internal factional conflicts within the LDP. This continuous turnover highlights a recurring cycle of short-premierships amidst ongoing political instability.