Japan’s ruling coalition suffered a significant setback in Sunday’s upper house elections, losing its majority as voters expressed discontent over soaring prices and uncertainty in trade talks with the United States. Despite the defeat, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced he has no intention to step down, pledging to redouble efforts on economic diplomacy.
As the final ballot counts neared completion, public broadcaster NHK reported the coalition—composed of Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior partner Komeito—had secured 47 seats, three short of the 50 needed to maintain control of the 248-seat chamber with one seat still uncalled. Half the upper house’s seats were up for grabs in an election widely seen as a referendum on the ruling bloc’s handling of persistent inflation and domestic scandals.
Although the LDP has governed Japan almost uninterruptedly since 1955—despite frequent leadership reshuffles—the loss follows last year’s forfeiture of the lower house majority, further eroding the coalition’s authority. “I solemnly accept this harsh result,” Ishiba said at a late-night news conference, adding that his current priority remains ongoing trade negotiations.
Voter dissatisfaction has mounted amid a spike in living costs, particularly rising rice prices, as well as a recent spate of political scandals that have shaken confidence in the ruling party. The latest results are seen as a stark reflection of public unease and frustration over both Japan’s sluggish economy and the government’s stewardship, complicating Ishiba’s political path forward.
Shinzo Abe, Ishiba’s predecessor and the LDP’s longest-serving prime minister, previously led the party through two terms from 2006 to 2007, and again from 2012 to 2020. The continuing leadership challenges underscore the pressure on Ishiba, who now faces critical decisions as he seeks to navigate the coalition through mounting domestic and international challenges.
