Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is considering stepping down, but will wait to assess the outcome of high-stakes trade talks with the United States before making a final decision, according to a report by the Yomiuri newspaper on Wednesday.
Ishiba has come under increasing pressure from within his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) after the coalition suffered a major setback in Sunday’s upper house elections. Despite calls for him to resign, Ishiba has insisted that Japan must avoid a political vacuum as critical negotiations with Washington near completion.
“I will stay in office and do everything in my power to chart a path toward resolving these challenges,” Ishiba said at a press conference earlier this week. He emphasized that stability is crucial as Japan deals with economic and diplomatic headwinds.
According to the Yomiuri, Ishiba told aides on Tuesday evening that he plans to address how he will take responsibility for the election defeat—but only after a clear resolution on the trade agreement with the U.S. is reached.
Trump Claims Massive Deal with Japan
Early Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced via Truth Social that a “massive” new trade agreement had been finalized with Japan, including $550 billion in Japanese investments into the United States.
In response, Ishiba said he would wait for a full briefing from Japan’s chief trade negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, who is currently in Washington, before commenting on the agreement’s implications or deciding his political future.
“I can’t comment until I fully review the details of the agreement,” Ishiba told reporters when asked whether the deal would influence his decision to step down.
Next Steps
Later on Wednesday, Ishiba is expected to meet with senior figures in the LDP to review the election results and discuss the future of his leadership.
For now, he remains committed to steering Japan through the trade challenges ahead—while the political pressure continues to mount.
