Stay or go? Key events give Ishiba time to ponder his future.
Ishiba has reiterated his intention to stay in office — in defiance of growing calls for him to step down from within his Liberal Democratic Party after the party's poor showing in the Upper House election this month.
"I'll manage the nation with my utmost sense of alarm and responsibility to leave a better Japan for the next era," Ishiba said in a speech in the resort town of Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, on Friday.
Earlier that day, Ishiba reportedly told a meeting of ruling and opposition party leaders that he had no plans to resign. But the prime minister could face direct calls for to step down at a meeting of LDP lawmakers from both chambers of parliament that is scheduled for Monday.
Separately, middle-ranking and younger LDP members are seeking to hold a general meeting of party lawmakers to take responsibility for the Upper House election results, effectively urging Ishiba and party executives to resign. On Friday, they said they had collected signatures from one-third of the party's lawmakers, the minimum required to hold such a meeting.
Meanwhile, an extraordinary session of parliament will begin next Friday, with intensive discussions set to be held on the recent Japan-United States tariff agreement.
With the country set to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II on Aug. 15, early media reports suggest Ishiba will issue a message in a personal capacity to mark the event, instead of an official statement formally rubber-stamped by the Cabinet. He is also said to be keen on attending as a sitting prime minister the annual peace ceremonies on Aug. 6 and 9 to mark the anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, respectively.
In addition, Ishiba has emphasized the importance of an international conference on African development in Yokohama from Aug. 20 to 22. Some in the party appear willing to tolerate Ishiba remaining in office until the conference concludes.
Many in the LDP believe Ishiba will step down after the party conducts a review of the Upper House election in August. On Friday, its Youth Division submitted a written request to the party leadership, urging them to resign after the review.
"The prime minister is expected to step down after the review," a senior party member said.
However, whether this scenario will be realized remains to be seen. On social media, an increasing number of posts have encouraged Ishiba to stay on.
"The prime minister is extremely motivated," one veteran LDP member who recently met with Ishiba said. "Public opinion will also influence his decision on whether to step down."
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