Overview

• Ishiba announced his departure on Sept. 7 and directed the Liberal Democratic Party to hold an emergency vote to choose his successor, with timing expected to be set for early October according to party reporting.
• He said he will stay on as caretaker until a new leader is elected and he will not be a candidate in the contest.
• The governing coalition has lost its majority in both Diet chambers since last year, leaving any successor to run a minority government that must bargain with a fragmented opposition to pass laws.
• Potential successors cited by media include Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, conservative former minister Sanae Takaichi, and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi.
• Ishiba linked the timing to a U.S.–Japan tariff deal that cut U.S. duties on Japanese autos and other goods to 15 percent, as markets recently showed strain with yen selling and a record high 30‑year JGB yield.