Who is Shigeru Ishiba? Japan's train-loving PM, who pitched for 'NATO like force against China', faces set back in election

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is a self-confessed defence geek and train-lover whose snap election gamble backfired as his Liberal Democratic Party suffered its worst result in 15 years. PM Ishiba has also taken a tough stance against economic super-power, as per a report.

The disastrous outcome widely projected by local media after Sunday's election is a serious blow to 67-year-old Ishiba, a party veteran who is also a fan of 1970s pop idols and making military models, AFP reported.

Last month he saw off eight other candidates to become head of the conservative LDP, which has governed Japan almost uninterrupted for seven decades, albeit with frequent changes of leader.


He took office days later, replacing Fumio Kishida, who suffered from discontent over rising prices, a slush fund scandal and LDP ties to a Christian movement in the wake of the 2022 assassination of ex-premier Shinzo Abe.

At a rally on Saturday, Ishiba pledged that the LDP would "start afresh as a fair, just and sincere party".

But it wasn't enough to convince voters, with the LDP falling short of a majority for the first time since 2009 on Sunday, according to the exit-poll projections from national broadcaster NHK and others.

Worse than that, even when combined with the seats won by long-term coalition partner Komeito, the LDP is expected to miss the required 233 seats in the lower house -- a level that Ishiba set as his minimum goal.

He pledged to revitalise depressed rural regions and to address the "quiet emergency" of Japan's falling population with measures to support families like flexible working hours.

In an apparent reference to China, Ishiba said that "today's Ukraine could be tomorrow's East Asia", with the regional environment "the most severe since the end of World War II", as per a report on AFP.

He has also backed the creation of a regional military alliance along the lines of NATO to counter China, although he has since cautioned it would "not happen overnight", AFP reported.

FAQS

Q1. Who is Prime Minister of Japan?
A1. Japanese Prime Minister is Shigeru Ishiba.

Q2. Which is the ruling party of Japan?
A2. Ruling party of Japan is Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).