Overview

• Ishiba announced the move at a Tokyo news conference and said he will serve until the party elects a successor who customarily becomes prime minister.
• The LDP–Komeito alliance won 47 of 125 contested seats in July’s Upper House election and had already lost its Lower House majority last October.
• Senior figures pressed for change as the agriculture minister and a former prime minister reportedly urged a voluntary exit and four top LDP officials, including secretary‑general Hiroshi Moriyama, offered to resign.
• Ishiba said he is stepping down to avoid a party split, and he timed the announcement after a U.S. tariff deal on autos was finalized.
• Right‑populist Sanseito expanded to 14 Upper House seats, benefiting from voter discontent over rising prices and immigration policy reported by Japanese media.