Japan in Deep Political Crisis After Losing Upper House Majority, Says PM Ishiba-Led Ruling Party

Japan in Deep Political Crisis After Losing Upper House Majority, Says PM Ishiba-Led Ruling Party
[Tokyo, July 20, 2025] — Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), led by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, has lost its majority in the Upper House, plunging the country into a serious political crisis. Despite the setback, Ishiba has announced his intention to remain in office.

According to public broadcaster NHK, in Sunday’s Upper House election, the LDP-Komeito coalition is on track to lose control of the 248-member Japanese Parliament’s Upper Chamber. However, in an interview with TV Tokyo, the Prime Minister stated:

“I will remain in office — that is certain. We must accept this difficult situation with humility and sincerity.”

He further added:

“We are still the largest party in Parliament, and the responsibility to deliver results lies heavily on our shoulders.”

Tariff Talks and Relations with the U.S.
When asked about the newly expanded tariff agreement with the United States, Ishiba emphasized:

“We are continuing extremely important tariff negotiations with the U.S. If these talks are disrupted, it could have a negative impact on Japan’s economy.”

Prospect of a New Coalition: Sanseitō’s Crucial Role
The emerging Sanseitō party, founded in 2020 under the slogan “Japan First,” may potentially join the LDP in forming a coalition, hinted party leader Sohei Kamiya.

Source: Kyodo News

Opposition Mulls No-Confidence Motion
Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP), stated that they are not part of any “grand coalition” with the LDP and are considering submitting a no-confidence motion in Parliament if Ishiba remains Prime Minister.

So far, no other opposition party has indicated support for Ishiba in the Upper House.

Voting and Election Results
Voting was held across nearly 45,000 polling stations nationwide for 125 seats in the Upper House.
The LDP-Komeito coalition currently holds 75 seats in the Upper Chamber and needs at least 50 more to secure a majority.

It’s noteworthy that the last time the LDP lost its Upper House majority was in 2007.
Members of the Upper House serve six-year terms, with elections for half the seats held every three years. This time, voting was conducted for 125 seats, including one vacant seat.

The final results are expected to be announced Sunday night.