Japan Governing Coalition Projected to Lose Upper House Majority

Japan's ruling coalition, led by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, is projected to lose its majority in the upper house following key elections, deepening the country's political instability. The coalition, consisting of Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior partner Komeito, needed to win at least 50 of the contested 125 seats but is expected to win around 40, marking its worst upper house performance since 1999. This setback follows the coalition's loss of majority in the lower house last October, leaving Japan with a rare minority government in both chambers, a situation unprecedented since World War II. The election saw significant gains for the far-right populist Sanseito party, which capitalizes on anti-immigration and anti-globalism sentiments, appealing particularly to younger male voters. Voter frustration is driven by rising prices, stagnant wages, social security burdens, political scandals, and ongoing difficulties in trade negotiations with the United States amid tariffs. Ishiba has expressed determination to continue leading but faces intense pressure to resign, with analysts warning that losing the majority could trigger a leadership change and complicate policymaking amid economic and security challenges.