Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced his resignation on Sunday (September 7), instructing his Liberal Democratic Party to hold an emergency leadership race.

Ishiba's last act as premier will have been to finalise the trade deal with the United States last week, under which Japan pledged $550 billion of investments in return for lower tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Since coming to power less than a year ago, Ishiba has overseen his ruling coalition lose its majorities in elections for both houses of parliament amid voter anger over rising living costs. Until Sunday, he had refused calls to step down following the latest of those losses in July's upper house vote. He had focused instead on ironing out details of the trade deal with the U.S.

“Now that negotiations concerning the U.S. tariff measures have reached a turning point, I thought this was the appropriate time to step aside and make way for the next one (prime minister),” Ishiba said at a news conference on Sunday where he announced he was stepping down.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

TOKYO, JAPAN (SEPTEMBER 7, 2025) (FOREIGN POOL - Access all)

1. JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER, SHIGERU ISHIBA, ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE

2. ISHIBA STANDING, POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER, SHIGERU ISHIBA, SAYING:

“I have decided to resign as the Liberal Democratic Party president.”

4. NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER, SHIGERU ISHIBA, SAYING:

“Now that negotiations concerning the U.S. tariff measures have reached a turning point, I thought this was the appropriate time to step aside and make way for the next one (prime minister).”

6. NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER, SHIGERU ISHIBA, SAYING:

“This agreement was built upon the trust between our administration and the Trump administration. It should have been our administration that fulfilled its responsibilities, and it is truly regrettable that it has come to this result.”

8. REPORTER ASKING QUESTION

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER, SHIGERU ISHIBA, SAYING:

“At the recent military parade in China, when I saw the leaders of China, Russia, and North Korea standing side by side, I could not help but fear that the security environment will become even more severe going forward.”

10. SIGN ON PODIUM READING (English) “PRIME MINISTER OF JAPAN”

11. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER, SHIGERU ISHIBA, SAYING:

“I will not run in the upcoming presidential election. I want to make that clear.”

12. ISHIBA BOWING AND LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE