Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba of Japan, who had expressed his intention to remain in office after the defeat in the House of Councilors election, is expected to resign voluntarily as early as this August.

On the 23rd, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba answers questions from the press at the Prime Minister's residence in Tokyo after the trade negotiations between the United States and Japan are concluded. / Courtesy of Yonhap News Agency

The Mainichi Shimbun reported on the 23rd that Prime Minister Ishiba has made up his mind to announce his resignation by the end of August and communicated this to those around him.

On this day, Prime Minister Ishiba is reported to have a meeting with the Liberal Democratic Party's senior advisor Taro Aso, Deputy President Yoshihide Suga, and former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to discuss his future.

Earlier, after the defeat in the House of Councilors election on the 20th, Prime Minister Ishiba stated, "There must not be a vacuum in governance," saying he would maintain his position, but the growing calls for resignation within the Liberal Democratic Party are interpreted as changing his mind.

The Mainichi Shimbun noted, "As demands and criticisms for resignation following the significant defeat in the House of Councilors election are increasing, the timing of his decision may be moved up or postponed."

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