Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is reportedly planning to resign following a significant electoral setback that left his coalition without a majority in the upper house of parliament, according to local media reports on Wednesday.

Sources close to Ishiba indicate that he shared his intention to step down shortly after the announcement of a new US-Japan trade agreement. The election loss has weakened his position, prompting speculation about his departure from the leadership role.

Ishiba's political career spans decades, with key roles shaping his leadership. Elected to the House of Representatives in 1986, he served as Minister of Defense (2007–2008), Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (2008–2009), and LDP secretary-general (2012–2014). Known for his defense expertise and advocacy for rural revitalization, Ishiba often critiqued party leadership, including Shinzo Abe, creating tensions within the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

After multiple failed leadership bids, he became LDP leader and Prime Minister on October 1, 2024. The recent electoral defeat, the LDP's second-worst since 2009, has intensified pressure on Ishiba, who previously called for resignations after similar losses, leading to his reported decision to step down.