Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba ’s ruling coalition failed on Monday (July 21, 2025) to safe a majority in the 248-seat Upper House in an important parliamentary election, NHK public tv mentioned.
Mr. Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition accomplice Komeito wanted to win 50 seats on high of the 75 seats they have already got to achieve the objective. With two extra seats to be determined, the coalition had solely 46 seats.
The loss is one other blow to Ishiba’s coalition, making it a minority in each Houses following its October defeat in the decrease home election, and worsening Japan’s political instability. It was the primary time the LDP has misplaced a majority in each Houses of Parliament for the reason that social gathering’s basis in 1955.
Despite the loss, Mr. Ishiba expressed willpower to remain on to deal with challenges similar to U.S. tariff threats, however he might face calls from inside his social gathering to step down or discover one other coalition accomplice.
“I will fulfill my responsibility as head of the No. 1 party and work for the country,” he mentioned.
Mr. Ishiba had set the bar low, wanting a easy majority of 125 seats, which suggests his LDP and its Buddhist-backed junior coalition accomplice Komeito wanted to win 50 so as to add to the 75 seats they have already got.
Exit ballot outcomes launched seconds after the ballots closed on Sunday (July 20, 2025) night time principally confirmed a serious setback for Mr. Ishiba’s coalition.
The LDP alone gained 38 seats, higher than most exit ballot projections of 32, and nonetheless the No. 1 social gathering in the parliament, generally known as the Diet.
“It’s a tough situation. I take it humbly and sincerely,” Mr. Ishiba advised a dwell interview with NHK. He mentioned the poor displaying was as a result of his authorities’s measures to fight value enhance have but to achieve many individuals.
The poor efficiency in the election is not going to instantly set off a change of presidency as a result of the Upper House lacks the ability to file a no-confidence movement in opposition to a frontrunner, however it’s going to definitely deepen uncertainty over his destiny and Japan’s political stability. Mr. shiba might face calls from inside the LDP social gathering to step down or discover one other coalition accomplice.
Soaring costs, lagging incomes and burdensome social safety funds are the highest points for annoyed, cash-strapped voters. Stricter measures focusing on overseas residents and guests additionally emerged as a key challenge, with a surging right-wing populist social gathering main the marketing campaign.
Sunday’s (July 20, 2025) vote comes after Mr. Ishiba’s coalition misplaced a majority in the October decrease home election, stung by previous corruption scandals, and his unpopular authorities has since been compelled into making concessions to the opposition to get laws by way of parliament. It has been unable to shortly ship efficient measures to mitigate rising costs, together with Japan’s conventional staple of rice, and dwindling wages.
U.S. President Donald Trump has added to the stress, complaining a couple of lack of progress in commerce negotiations and the shortage of gross sales of U.S. autos and American-grown rice to Japan regardless of a shortfall in home shares of the grain. A 25% tariff as a result of take impact Aug. 1 has been one other blow for Ishiba.
Mr. Ishiba resisted any compromise earlier than the election, however the prospect for a breakthrough after the election is simply as unclear as a result of the minority authorities would have problem forming a consensus with the Opposition.
Frustrated voters have been quickly turning to rising populist events. The eight essential opposition teams, nonetheless, have been too fractured to forge a typical platform as a united entrance and acquire voter assist as a viable various.
The rising populist social gathering Sanseito stands out with the hardest anti-foreigner stance, with its “Japanese First” platform that proposes a brand new company to deal with insurance policies associated to foreigners. The social gathering’s populist platform additionally contains anti-vaccine, anti-globalism and favors conventional gender roles.
Conservative to centrist opposition teams, together with the primary opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, or CDPJ, the DPP, and Sanseito have gained vital floor on the Liberal Democrats’ expense. The CDPJ was projected to win as much as 26 seats, whereas the DPP might quadruple to 17 seats from 4, exit ballot outcomes confirmed. Sanseito was anticipated to surge to 16 from only one.
None of the opposition events mentioned that they have been open to cooperating with the governing coalition. CDPJ chief Yoshihiko Noda advised NHK that his precedence is to type an alliance among the many opposition.
The unfold of xenophobic rhetoric in the election marketing campaign and on social media has triggered protests by human rights activists and alarmed overseas residents.
LDP has virtually repeatedly dominated Japan’s postwar politics, contributing to its political stability and social conformity.
Voters are divided between stability and alter, with some voicing concern about escalating xenophobia.
Yuko Tsuji, a 43-year-old advisor, who got here to a polling station inside a downtown Tokyo gymnasium together with her husband, mentioned they each assist LDP for stability and unity. and voted “for candidates who won’t fuel division.”
“If the ruling party doesn’t govern properly, the conservative base will drift toward extremes. So I voted with the hope that the ruling party would tighten things up,” she mentioned.
Self-employed Daiichi Nasu, 57, who got here to vote together with his canine, mentioned that he hopes for a change towards a extra inclusive and numerous society, with extra open immigration and gender insurance policies similar to permitting married {couples} to maintain separate surnames.
“That’s why I voted for the CDPJ,” he mentioned. “I want to see progress on those fronts.”
