Japanese PM Ishiba has so far failed to resonate with voters

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.

However, as Ishiba heads into an increasingly tense upper house election, that hope has mostly faded. He has been caught in a deadlock, criticized from both the political right and left, leaving him unable to show his political colors. His tendency to prioritize his inner circle of lawmakers has also limited his capacity to develop attractive policies and a long-term strategy, experts said.