Japan Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba plans to resign to avoid party split

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has decided to step down, NHK reported on Sunday, in a move that could trigger a leadership race within the ruling party.

The decision comes less than a year after Ishiba took office, marking one of the shortest tenures for a Japanese premier in recent history. His time in power has been overshadowed by mounting political challenges and disappointing election results that weakened his party’s grip on parliament.

Pressure on Ishiba intensified following the July elections, where the ruling coalition suffered a crushing blow and lost its majority in both chambers. Weeks of internal criticism and growing calls for accountability left the prime minister with little choice but to resign.