Japan’s prime minister vows to stay in office despite crushing election defeat

Japan’s ruling coalition has lost its majority in the country’s upper house, but Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has said he has no plans to quit, the BBC writes.

The ruling coalition needed 50 seats to retain control of the 248-seat upper chamber. It ended up with 47.

Voters went to the polls on Sunday for the tightly-contested election, being held at a time of frustration at the coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior partner Komeito over rising prices and the threat of US tariffs.

Speaking after polls closed on Sunday, the prime minister said he “solemnly” accepts the “harsh result” but that his focus was on trade negotiations.

Having already lost its majority in Japan’s more powerful lower house last year, the defeat will undermine the coalition’s influence.