Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba intends to resign and will formally announce his decision by the end of August, according to reports from the Mainichi and Yomiuri newspapers that were subsequently carried by Reuters and other outlets. The reports say Ishiba resolved to step down after his Liberal Democratic Party suffered a heavy defeat in this month’s upper house election and as the government faces mounting public discontent over accelerating inflation. No official statement has yet been released, and the Prime Minister’s Office has not responded to requests for comment. Ishiba’s departure would trigger a ruling-party leadership vote to choose his successor and could complicate the government’s efforts to steer economic policy amid rising price pressures. Details of the timetable for the leadership contest have not been disclosed.