Japan Elections: LDP Faces Setbacks amid Call for Ishiba to Quit

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Komeito Struggles in Saitama, LDP Stumbles in Tokyo, and Nishida Masashi Questions Prime Minister’s Future Amid Mounting Losses

By TRH Global Affairs Desk

NEW DELHI, July 20, 2025 –Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is reeling from major setbacks in the ongoing House of Councillors elections, with several high-profile incumbents facing defeat and internal calls mounting for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to step down.

In one of the most closely watched races, Nishida Masashi, an LDP incumbent from Kyoto, is certain to secure a fourth term despite controversy over his comments on the Himeyuri Monument in Okinawa. Nishida’s re-election comes amid intense criticism of the LDP’s handling of campaign finance scandals and voter discontent.

Speaking after his win, Nishida took a swipe at the Prime Minister: “(Prime Minister Ishiba) should take stock of his own actions and think about his own responsibilities. It doesn’t make sense for him to continue.”

Major Losses for Ruling Coalition

In Saitama, Komeito’s incumbent Katsuo Yagura (50) is expected to lose his seat despite intense daily campaigning by party leaders including Chairman Tetsuo Saito. Saitama is one of the seven districts where Komeito fielded officially endorsed candidates, but the party struggled from the start.

The LDP’s woes deepened in Tokyo, where multiple key candidates are projected to lose.

Keizo Takemi, former Health Minister and current chairman of the House of Councillors, is expected to lose despite support from Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike.

“My role as a Diet member is over,” Takemi told supporters, attributing his loss to rising frustration among youth over intergenerational inequality and the power of social media.

Masayoshi Okumura, an incumbent from the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) known for his advocacy on child-rearing and disaster preparedness, is also expected to lose in Tokyo.
Shun Onkita, former Ishin no Kai lawmaker and ex-head of the party’s Policy Research Council, is likewise projected to lose. Onkita had campaigned on lowering social insurance premiums to attract younger voters.

“It is my own lack of ability. I am sorry,” he said in a concession speech.

Bright Spots for the Opposition

Amid the ruling bloc’s setbacks, the Constitutional Democratic Party’s Shiomura Fumika is certain to win re-election in the Tokyo constituency. A former TV writer and Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly member, Shiomura has campaigned strongly on women’s health and reproductive rights, including her work to make infertility treatment eligible for insurance.

The electoral outcomes have stirred turmoil within the LDP. Shigeharu Aoyama, chairman of the LDP’s Osaka Prefectural Chapter, announced his resignation after LDP newcomer Ken Yanagimoto was projected to lose in Osaka.

“Since the party is heading for losses in both the House of Representatives and House of Councillors, the Prime Minister should take responsibility,” Aoyama said.

These calls from within the party, combined with visible voter frustration and weakening coalition support, have put Prime Minister Ishiba’s leadership under a cloud. While Ishiba has expressed his intent to remain in office, insiders suggest that pressure for a leadership change could grow rapidly if final results mirror early projections.

As counting continues, the 2025 House of Councillors elections are shaping up to be a turning point in Japan’s political landscape—highlighting voter fatigue with the ruling coalition and suggesting a potential shift in the country’s power dynamics.