Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Justin McCurry in Tokyo

Who will be Japan’s next PM? Ruling LDP set to begin ‘especially chaotic’ party election

Japan's Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, walks off stage after he attends a memorial service ceremony marking the 79th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War Two, at Budokan Hall in Tokyo, August 15, 2024
Japan's Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, walks off stage after he attends a memorial service ceremony marking the 79th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War Two, at Budokan Hall in Tokyo, August 15, 2024. Photograph: Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters

After a week in which Japan’s citizens braced themselves for a possible megaquake, the biggest seismic shift came from its political epicentre, as the prime minister, Fumio Kishida, announced his decision to step down next month.

His three years in office will end in late September when his ruling Liberal Democratic party [LDP] selects a new president, who is assured of being approved as Japan’s next prime minister in the LDP-controlled parliament.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.