Japan's Kishida Tells His Ruling Party he Will Not Run in Its September Leadership Vote, NHK Says

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who has effectively announced his resignation, helped transform Japan’s foreign policy, boosting its global role and accelerating a major military expansion, despite facing domestic challenges that ultimately led to his exit.

Fumio Kishida was elected president of his governing Liberal Democratic Party and became prime minister in 2021, with his three-year term expiring in September.

The sudden announcement came as Kishida's Cabinet stepped up disaster preparedness after the weather agency last week issued its first-ever advisory warning of an increased risk of a megaquake along the Nankai Trough, running between central and southwestern Japan in the Pacific, according to Japan's Kyodo News.

A four-time candidate for party president and a former defence minister, Ishiba is yet to officially announce his intention to run in the upcoming race.