Japan’s Ruling Coalition Loses Grip on Upper House as Pressure Mounts on PM Ishiba

Japan’s ruling coalition suffered a major electoral setback on Sunday, losing its majority in the upper house —a blow that further undermines Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s hold on power.

- PT News

Despite the stinging defeat, Ishiba vowed to stay on as party leader, citing high-stakes trade talks with the United States as too critical to abandon now. While the election result doesn't automatically unseat Ishiba's government, it adds to the mounting political pressure that has intensified since October, when his coalition lost control of the more powerful lower house. With public dissatisfaction rising and opposition momentum growing, the prime minister faces a challenging road ahead. In Sunday's vote, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its longtime coalition partner Komeito secured only 47 seats — falling short of the 50 needed for a majority in the 248-mem-ber upper chamber, where half the seats were contested. The result marks the coalition’s second major electoral setback in under a year. The LDP’s poor showing follows October's crushing defeat in the lower house — its worst performance in 15 years — which opened the door to no-confidence motions and stirred internal calls for new leadership. Speaking to national broadcaster NHK late Sunday night, Ishiba acknowledged the loss. “I solemnly accept this harsh result,” he said. But he also remained defiant, telling TV To