TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has endured a grueling schedule during his first three months in office as he grapples with how to govern effectively despite having a minority in parliament's lower house and a dearth of close allies.
While criticism of new U.S. administrations traditionally is lighter during the "honeymoon period" of the first 100 days, Japan's new leader has received no such leniency. Ishiba has been faulted for shaking hands with fellow world leaders while seated, being absent from a group photo at an international summit and eating an onigiri rice ball messily.
