TOKYO -- When Shigeru Ishiba ran for Japan's prime minister in the autumn of 2024, some voters hoped that the quiet yet sharp debater, long dismissed as a fringe party member, could reform the struggling, scandal-ridden ruling party.
Japan election
Japanese PM Ishiba has so far failed to resonate with voters
Reliance on inner circle hindered crafting of political strategy, experts say
Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba: the ruling coalition he leads is at risk of losing its majority in the upper house. (Photo by Tomoki Mera)
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