Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is facing renewed internal pressure after the Liberal Democratic Party’s heavy defeat in last month’s Upper House election, its first loss of a majority in either chamber since 1955. Takayuki Kobayashi, considered a possible successor, publicly urged Ishiba to take responsibility and resign, while other lawmakers are testing support for advancing the party’s leadership race. A Jiji Press poll conducted in mid-August shows the public narrowly against an immediate resignation, with 39.9% saying Ishiba should stay and 36.9% calling for him to quit. Among core LDP supporters, however, 65% oppose the so-called “Ishiba-oroshi” drive, underscoring the risk of backlash if rebels force a contest. Attention inside the party has shifted to veteran power-broker Taro Aso, whose 43-member faction is the largest organised bloc left in the LDP. Leadership hopefuls have been courting Aso, but his group has recently failed to back a single candidate in past races, leaving uncertainty over whether opponents can muster the majority of lawmakers and prefectural delegates required to trigger an early vote.