Overview
- Suga, 77, is a ten-term Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker representing Kanagawa’s 2nd district and has conveyed his decision to close aides, with a public statement expected soon.
- Jiji Press reports he plans to explain his decision to supporters on January 17.
- Coverage cites consideration of physical stamina as the likely reason, which has not been formally stated by Suga himself.
- The LDP’s Kanagawa prefectural branch is moving quickly to choose a successor candidate for the district.
- His career includes a record 7 years and 8 months as chief cabinet secretary and a premiership from September 2020 to October 2021 after first winning a Diet seat in 1996 following service on the Yokohama city council.