Shigeru Ishiba, Japan's Prime Minister, will step down from his position.

Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba Announces Resignation

Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has announced his intention to step down, following a historic defeat in July's parliamentary election and growing calls from his party for a change in leadership.

Ishiba had resisted the decision for over a month, but he stated that he is stepping down to prevent further division within his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and to avoid a political vacuum as Japan faces big challenges, including US tariffs, rising prices, rice policy reforms, and growing tension in the region.

The LDP is likely to nominate Fumio Kishida as the new party leader following Ishiba's resignation. The calls for Ishiba to step down are due to the ruling coalition's failure to secure a majority in the 248-seat upper house in July's parliamentary election.

Last week, the LDP adopted a review of the election loss, calling for a "complete overhaul" of the party. Since the adoption of the review, requests for an early leadership election or for Ishiba's resignation before Monday's results have gained traction.

Ishiba took office in October and had previously insisted on staying in office. Over the weekend, he met with Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who suggested his resignation ahead of Monday's vote.

Ishiba is expected to hold a news conference later on Sunday to address the matter further. The early leadership election, if approved, would be a virtual no-confidence motion against Ishiba.

The parliamentary election defeat marked a significant setback for the LDP, which has been in power for most of the post-war period. The party is now facing pressure to modernise and adapt to changing political dynamics in Japan.

The resignation of Ishiba and the potential leadership change in the LDP could have significant implications for Japan's political landscape and its response to the challenges it faces in the coming years.