Overview

• Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced he will step down as Liberal Democratic Party president and not run in the interim leadership contest.
• He asked party officials to start procedures to choose a successor and said he will carry out government duties until a new leader is selected.
• The LDP canceled a Sept. 8 intention‑confirmation on accelerating a leadership vote and moved to fast‑track preparations for an interim election, with rules to be set from Sept. 9.
• Ishiba linked the timing to a perceived milestone in tariff negotiations with the United States and suggested Yoshihide Suga urged him to avoid a party split.
• Prefectural chapters were divided, with reporting counting 10 that did not seek an interim vote and 25 that formally pushed to front‑load the race, as figures like Sanae Takaichi and Shinjiro Koizumi sought endorsements.