Japan is in the news because Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said he will step down. This keeps a long pattern going: Japan has switched prime ministers many times in the last two decades.
What happened today (quick recap)
- PM Ishiba said he will resign after poor election results and pressure inside his party.
- The ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), will choose a new leader. Then Japan’s parliament (called the Diet) will vote to make that person the next prime minister.
The “revolving door”: 10 PM changes since 2005
In Japan, the ruling party can replace its leader without a national election. That’s why prime ministers can change more often. Here are the 10 switches in about 20 years:
- 2006: Junichiro Koizumi → Shinzo Abe (Abe became party leader and PM)
- 2007: Abe → Yasuo Fukuda (Abe resigned)
- 2008: Fukuda → Taro Aso (Fukuda resigned)
- 2009: Aso → Yukio Hatoyama (another party won the election)
- 2010: Hatoyama → Naoto Kan (Hatoyama resigned)
- 2011: Kan → Yoshihiko Noda (Kan resigned)
- 2012: Noda → Shinzo Abe (LDP won a big election; Abe returned)
- 2020: Abe → Yoshihide Suga (Abe resigned for health reasons)
- 2021: Suga → Fumio Kishida (new LDP leader)
- 2024: Kishida → Shigeru Ishiba (Ishiba won the party race and became PM)
Note: Because Ishiba is resigning now, the next pick will make it 11 changes in roughly the same 20-year span.
Why does Japan change leaders so often?
- Party groups (factions): The LDP has many groups inside it. Deals between these groups can quickly lift or remove a leader.
- Bad polls or election losses: When ratings drop or votes go badly, the party often calls for a change.
- No fixed “president-style” term: The party can swap leaders in the middle of a term, so the PM can change even without a general election.
- Policies usually stay steady: Even if leaders change, many policies continue because the same party and civil service keep running the show.
What happens next?
- The leadership race in the LDP decides the new party head.
- The Diet (parliament) votes to choose the prime minister.
- The Emperor formally appoints the new PM, and a new Cabinet takes office.
Unless the new PM calls a snap election, this is a quick, planned handover.
Who might take over?
Names often mentioned include:
- Sanae Takaichi (senior conservative figure)
- Shinjiro Koizumi (younger, well-known lawmaker)
- Yoshimasa Hayashi (experienced in foreign affairs)
This list can change fast as party groups make deals. Treat it as a watch list.
Why this matters to the world
Japan is the world’s fifth-largest economy and a key country in the Indo-Pacific. A new PM can affect:
- the yen (Japan’s currency) and market mood,
- defense plans toward China and North Korea,
- trade and tech ties with countries like the U.S. and India,
- big projects in chips, cars, energy, and more.
Most changes are small, not huge, but they still matter.
FAQs
Does a PM’s resignation mean a national election right away?
No. The ruling party first picks a new leader. Then the Diet votes to make that person PM. Elections happen later if the new PM calls one or when the law requires it.
Why do people call it a “revolving door”?
Because the party can change leaders mid-term, so prime ministers sometimes serve for short periods.
Who is most likely to win?
It’s too early to say. Names like Takaichi, Koizumi, and Hayashi are being discussed, but party deals will decide the outcome.
