Japan’s ruling coalition has lost its majority in the upper house of parliament, a defeat that threatens Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s position and could complicate trade negotiations with the US, Japanese media reported on Monday.
“We must humbly and sincerely accept this difficult situation,” Ishiba said on NHK television. He also said he had no intention of reshuffling his cabinet or forming a new coalition.
The coalition’s defeat in the election was another blow to the prime minister, whose influence has been shaken since his defeat in the lower house elections last October. At the same time, the opposition and critics within the coalition may increase pressure on Ishiba to resign.
This is the first time in post-war Japan that the ruling coalition, represented by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), does not have a majority in at least one chamber of parliament.
Analysts warn that Ishiba’s possible resignation threatens Japan with political deadlock at a time when the country is facing difficult negotiations with the US on trade tariffs and growing pressure from China in the region.
On July 7, US President Donald Trump announced that the US would impose a 25% tariff on all goods from Japan and South Korea starting August 1. He said it was time to end trade deficits caused by tariff and non-tariff barriers imposed by these countries.
