Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba to Stay on After Election Defeat

After his coalition lost its majority in the upper house, Shigeru Ishiba said, ‘I painfully feel my serious responsibility over the election results.’

Japanese Prime Minister and president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Shigeru Ishiba, walks in front of a board with red paper roses showing elected candidates in Tokyo, Japan on July 20, 2025. Franck Robichon/Pool via Reuters

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, leader of the center-right Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), said on July 21 he would not stand down after losing a key election on July 20.

The parliamentary election defeat came as Japan faces an August 1 deadline to strike a tariff deal with the United States.