Japan Prime Minister Ishiba resigns

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has resigned from his position.

Ishiba, 68, announced his resignation at a press conference on Sunday, September 7, 2025.

Having just ironed out final details of a trade deal with the United States to lower President Donald Trump’s punishing tariffs, Ishiba said he must take responsibility for a series of bruising election losses.

Since coming to power less than a year ago, the unlikely premier has overseen his ruling coalition lose its majorities in elections for both houses of parliament amid voter anger over rising living costs.

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He instructed his Liberal Democratic Party – which has ruled Japan for almost all of the post-war period – to hold an emergency leadership race, adding that he would continue his duties until his successor was elected.

Ishiba said: “With Japan having signed the trade agreement and the president having signed the executive order, we have passed a key hurdle.

“I would like to pass the baton to the next generation.”

Ishiba has faced calls to resign since the latest of those losses in an election for the upper house in July, Reuters reported.

The LDP had been scheduled to hold a vote on whether to hold an extraordinary leadership election on Monday.

The Star