Overview
- Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party and its Komeito partner won only 47 of 125 contested seats, leaving them three seats shy of a majority in the 248-member upper chamber.
- Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced he will remain in office to oversee urgent policy work despite growing dissent from senior party figures.
- The far-right Sanseito party surged from one seat to 14, boosting nationalist populist voices in parliament.
- The main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party is considering a no-confidence motion to force a leadership change in the minority government.
- The loss heightens uncertainty in U.S.-Japan trade negotiations, with President Trump poised to impose 25 percent tariffs on Japanese exports if no deal is reached by August 1.