Earlier, Japanese media reported that Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba might resign by the end of August. However, on July 23 local time, after a meeting with three senior party officials and former Prime Ministers Taro Aso, Shinzo Abe, and Yoshihiko Noda, Ishiba publicly stated to the media that the rumors about his resignation "have nothing to do with the facts," and said that it was not possible to create a political vacuum in order to quickly resolve policy issues. Japanese media noted that he expressed an intention to continue serving as Prime Minister.

The "not factual" information mentioned by Ishiba refers to reports from media such as the "Mainichi Shimbun" earlier that day. These reports claimed that Ishiba had informed people around him of his decision to resign before the end of August, taking responsibility for the recent major defeat of the ruling "Liberal Democratic Party-Komeito coalition" in the House of Councillors election.

Observatory Network had previously noticed that the related reports were different from those of more authoritative institutions such as the Kyodo News Agency.

Shigeru Ishiba attending a press conference after meeting with senior party officials NHK

Ishiba said, "I did not discuss matters related to my personal future or exit during the meeting. Some reports mentioned this, but I have never made such statements, and these reports are completely inconsistent with the facts."

Due to Trump's earlier public announcement of reaching a tariff agreement with Japan, at an earlier press conference on the 23rd, Ishiba also said that he would "carefully study" the content of the agreement before responding, without showing any intention to step down soon.

However, it is a fact that Ishiba has been under great pressure from within and outside the party recently. Some Japanese media reported that the support rate of Ishiba's cabinet in Japan has fallen to a new low of 22.9%, and many young and middle-ranking members of the Liberal Democratic Party have also demanded that Ishiba take responsibility for the loss in the House of Councillors election and resign.

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