After losing the recent Upper House (参議院) election, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) held a major internal meeting to discuss next steps. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba apologized for the defeat but made it clear he plans to stay in office. He said Japan still faces big issues, including trade with the US, agriculture, and disaster preparedness, and he wants to continue leading efforts to address them.

Key Points from the Meeting:

• Many LDP members demanded an early leadership election (to possibly replace Ishiba), though the meeting itself didn't have the authority to make that decision.
• It was agreed that the party’s leadership election committee would now consider whether to move the election forward.
• Some senior lawmakers supported Ishiba, but many from different party factions pushed for a new leader.
• Party officials said they'll follow the rules and constitution of the party in making any decisions about elections or leadership changes.

Ishiba's Comments to Reporters:

1. On US trade issues: Ishiba said that while an agreement has been reached with the US, there are still many details to work out, and the government will do its best to protect businesses.
2. On early elections: He said it’s up to the party’s rules, and he won’t personally comment on the process.
3. On reshuffling his Cabinet or LDP executives: He said he has no plans to do so right now.

Reactions Inside the Party:

• Election Committee Chair Ichiro Aisawa said the party has never had to handle an early leadership election like this before and that they’re working out the process.
• Secretary-General Moriyama emphasized that all decisions will follow party rules.
• Younger and mid-level lawmakers were especially vocal about needing change and called for party reform and more open leadership.
• Some want a full leadership contest, with party members and the public involved, to rebuild trust and reset the party.
• Others, while criticizing Ishiba's lack of strong leadership, still respected the tone of the discussions, noting that calls for resignation were made respectfully.

In short, while PM Ishiba insists on staying in office, pressure is growing from inside his own party to hold an early leadership vote. The next few weeks will be key in deciding whether Ishiba stays or goes, and how the LDP plans to recover from its recent election loss.