and by the public—as the perennial outsider. Ishiba himself is said to have believed that only ‘destiny’ could propel him to the leadership of Japan. The events of 27 September have upturned these perceptions. In a hard-fought contest between a record-breaking nine candidates, votes from the Members of Parliament (Diet) and internal party mem
Minister and his prominent
enflamed the public’s anger, make his period in office challenging to say the least. As Japan heads to the polls in October in what is sure to be a referendum on the party’s internal election, this Brief attempts to profile Japan’s new Prime Minister and his prominent policy planks The English proverb, ‘Always a bridesmaid, never a bride’
internal critic of his party
On 27 September 2024, Shigeru Ishiba, a staunch internal critic of his party, overturned expectations to become the 102nd Prime Minister of Japan. A perennial ‘outsider’ long considered unelectable, Ishiba comes to the office of Prime Minister with a set of views that mix nuance with outlandishness, especially in the field of defence and foreig