Japan has seen three prime ministers in four years – who could be its new leader after Shigeru Ishiba??

It also comes as the country is dealing with a rising cost of living crisis amid a weakened yen.

“Japanese people are not accustomed to inflation so even a small amount feels shocking. For many ordinary voters, Japan just feels like its becoming a poorer country – prices are rising but wages are not going up, and with the yen being so weak, those going abroad would find everything so expensive,” said Professor James Brown of Temple University Japan.

The next PM will also have to navigate Tokyo’s tricky relationships with its neighbours.

Earlier last week, China celebrated its “Victory Day” parade – marking 80 years since it defeated Japan at the end of World War Two – which was attended by leaders such as North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

“You’re seeing three threatening neighbours, including a nuclear armed state, and a recent celebration [in China] on its victory over Japan,” said Prof Brown.

“Whether the leader is more nationalistic like Takaichi or next-generation-minded like Koizumi… the endurance of trilateral cooperation among Tokyo, Washington, and Seoul will be closely watched after Xi, Putin, and Kim so visibly displayed solidarity in Beijing,” said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.

Even Japan’s relationship with its long-term ally the US can get tense.

US President Donald Trump had earlier this year demanded that Tokyo pay more for stationing American troops in Japan.

“[Amid all this happening], there’s a bit of despair in the public. There’s no great hope that a different leader would make any major difference. For many people they think it’s just the same old story, just with a different LDP leader,” says Prof Brown.