Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is under pressure after a major loss in the upper house election. On July 23, he said he would decide whether to step down after reviewing the results of recent Japan-US tariff talks. That same day, he met with three former prime ministers: Taro Aso, Yoshihide Suga, and Fumio Kishida.
- At 3:30 PM, Ishiba told reporters that he had not discussed resigning and denied media reports claiming he had already decided to quit. He said the meeting focused on sharing a sense of crisis and the importance of avoiding a party split.
- At 3:20 PM, the meeting with the former leaders ended after about 1 hour and 20 minutes.
- Earlier, the three former prime ministers entered LDP headquarters for this rare gathering, highlighting the seriousness of the situation.
Meanwhile:
- The Nikkei stock index rose sharply, closing at 41,171 yen, a 3.5% jump and the highest in a year.
- The Japan-US trade talks concluded with a mutual agreement on 15% tariffs, including on cars.
- The finance minister said currency issues were not part of the deal.
- The economy minister said a task force would assess the impact on local industries and jobs.
Inside the LDP, young party leaders from local branches are calling for Ishiba and party executives to resign immediately, citing recent election losses and saying the party risks collapse if no action is taken.
The business community, represented by Keidanren (Japan’s top business lobby), praised the outcome of the trade talks and said the reduced auto tariffs are a positive development.
by MagazineKey4532