Japan's lack of visionary statesmen keeps politics adrift

Voters punish Ishiba and LDP but expect 'service' politics that provide immediate results

20250819N Ishiba

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has not offered a grand vision for Japan that resonates with voters. © Kyodo

NAOYA YOSHINO

TOKYO -- Right before the start of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development this week, I called Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, hoping to gain insights into his thinking after the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's routing in the upper house election.

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