TOKYO: With the Liberal Democratic Party likely having performed poorly in Sunday's (July 20) House of Councillors election, some LDP members are trying to hold Prime Minister and LDP President Shigeru Ishiba (pic) responsible for the results.

PM Ishiba's coalition was projected to have lost its majority in the upper house, a result that might push him to resign.

Japan's ruling coalition, led by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, lost its majority in the upper house, intensifying political uncertainty amid economic woes and rising populism. Voters expressed frustration over stagnant wages,

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba ’s ruling coalition failed Monday to secure a majority in the 248-seat upper house in a crucial parliamentary election, NHK public television said.

Japanese voters headed to the polls on Sunday in a tightly contested election amid public frustration over rising prices and the imminent threat of US tariffs. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior coalition partner Komeito need to secure a combined 50 seats to retain an overall majority in the upper house but the latest polling shows they might fall short.

Equities mostly rose Monday on optimism countries will reach US trade deals before an August 1 deadline, while the yen gained after Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said he would stay in office despite another election defeat.

Exit polls suggest that Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner Komeito will secure only 32 to 51 of the 124 contested seats in the 248-seat chamber. They needed at least 50 seats to maintain their grip on power.