Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Western diplomatic sources to Al Mayadeen: Witkoff's message to Tehran is that Washington is ready for negotiations with guarantees that no conflict will erupt in the process.
Western diplomatic sources to Al Mayadeen: Swiss Deputy Foreign Minister Gabriel Luginger carried a message from Steve Witkoff to Tehran.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Tehran: Iran's president signed 12 MoUs in an array of field between Tehran and Belarus to develop relations.
The Government Media Office in Gaza: The number of martyred journalists has risen to 239 after the martyrdom of journalist Islam al-Komi.
White House: Meeting between President Trump, European leaders and the Ukrainian president ends.
Reuters: Trump's meeting with European leaders is complete.
France's Macron says we all support idea of truce
Merz urges ceasefire before three-way Ukraine-Russia-US summit
Trump says Putin accepts Western security guarantees for Ukraine
Zelensky says had 'best' conversation yet with Trump

Japan's government loses upper house control

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 21 Jul 2025 09:19
3 Min Read

Japan’s ruling coalition loses upper house control, weakening PM Ishiba as US tariff deadline looms.

Listen
  • x
  • Japan loses upper house control
    Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba attends a press conference at the headquarters of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in Tokyo on July 21, 2025. (Philip Fong/Pool Photo via AP)

Japan’s ruling coalition lost control of the upper house in Sunday’s election, deepening Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s political troubles just weeks ahead of a crucial tariff negotiation deadline with the United States.

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner Komeito secured only 47 seats, falling short of the 50 needed to maintain a majority in the 248-seat chamber, where half the seats were contested. The defeat follows the coalition’s worst performance in 15 years in October’s lower house election, further weakening Ishiba's administration and exposing it to potential no-confidence motions.

Despite mounting pressure, Ishiba dismissed the possibility of stepping down. Speaking to NHK after polls closed, he said he "solemnly" accepted the "harsh result" but underscored the importance of staying in office to handle the sensitive trade talks with Washington.

"We are engaged in extremely critical tariff negotiations with the United States... we must never ruin these negotiations. It is only natural to devote our complete dedication and energy to realizing our national interests," Ishiba later told TV Tokyo.

The deadline for a trade agreement with the US, Japan’s largest export market, is set for August 1. Failure to reach a deal could trigger sweeping tariffs, posing serious risks for Japan’s export-driven economy.

Sanseito party rises on anti-immigration rhetoric

Related News

China to showcase hypersonic weapons at WWII anniversary parade

Japan's exports suffer sharpest decline in four years amid US tariffs

One of the biggest surprises of the Japan upper house election 2025 was the far-right Sanseito party, which added 14 new seats to its single preexisting seat.

Launched on YouTube during the COVID-19 pandemic, the party gained traction through its nationalist messaging and anti-immigration rhetoric under the slogan "Japanese First."

Sanseito’s rise has drawn comparisons to far-right parties such as Germany’s AfD and Reform UK. The party has also advocated for fiscal expansion and questioned mainstream policies on public health and foreign influence.

Opposition gains amid economic discontent

The main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party finished second with 22 seats, capitalizing on public frustration over rising consumer prices, especially the cost of rice, and the ruling party’s resistance to tax cuts.

Opposition groups campaigned on promises of welfare spending and lowering the consumption tax to ease inflation pressures, messages that appeared to resonate with voters.

"The LDP was largely playing defence in this election, being on the wrong side of a key voter issue," said David Boling, director at the Eurasia Group. "Polls show that most households want a cut to the consumption tax to address inflation, something that the LDP opposes."

With a weakened ruling bloc, the LDP may be forced to compromise with opposition parties to pass legislation, raising concerns about Japan’s already strained public finances.

"The ruling party will have to compromise in order to gain the cooperation of the opposition, and the budget will continue to expand," said Yu Uchiyama, a politics professor at the University of Tokyo.

  • Japan
  • Shigeru Ishiba
  • Liberal Democratic Party

Most Read

Egypt demands clarification over Netanyahu’s 'Greater Israel' vision

Egypt demands clarification over Netanyahu’s 'Greater Israel' vision

  • MENA
  • 14 Aug 2025
Declassified: CIA’s covert Ukraine invasion plan

Declassified: CIA’s covert Ukraine invasion plan

  • Opinion
  • 16 Aug 2025
Displaced Palestinians walk through a makeshift camp along the beach in Gaza City, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)

Hamas, other factions accept Egypt-Qatar ceasefire proposal: Exclusive

  • Politics
  • 18 Aug 2025
Sheikh Qassem: Lebanese gov’t serving Israeli agenda, Resistance firm

Resistance won’t give up arms, gov. decision dangerous: Sheikh Qassem

  • Politics
  • 15 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian meets with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk, Belarus, on August 20, 2025. (president.ir)
Politics

Iran-Belarus sign 12 agreements during Pezeshkian's Minsk visit

Demonstrators rally in support of Palestinians, Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at Lafayette Park across from the White House in Washington,. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Politics

US public opinion shifts toward Palestine as anger over Gaza grows

Israeli soldiers uses binoculars to look at damaged buildings in the Gaza Strip, from southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Politics

'Israel' may turn to diaspora as military struggles with manpower

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro waves during the opening of the XXIV ALBA-TCP Summit in Caracas on Dec 14, 2024. (PHOTO / AFP)
Latin America

Venezuela to deploy 4.5 million militia in response to US threats

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS