Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba plans to announce his resignation by the end of next month, the Mainichi newspaper reported on Wednesday.
Ishiba is facing growing opposition from within his Liberal Democratic Party for his earlier vow to stay in power despite the ruling coalition’s bruising defeat in Sunday’s upper house election.
According to the Yomiuri daily, Ishiba told his close associates on Tuesday evening that he would explain how he would take responsibility for the election loss once a solution was reached on trade negotiations with the US.
In a post on Truth Social posted on Wednesday Asian hours, US President Donald Trump said he had just completed a “massive” deal with Japan that included US$550 billion in investments into the United States.
Speaking after Trump’s post, Ishiba said he was ready to meet or speak over the phone with Trump after being briefed on the details by Japan’s top trade negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, who has been in Washington for trade talks.