Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba Announces Resignation

Economic Achievements

• 💡 The administration successfully passed 13 bills, including the R6 supplementary budget, which provided low-income benefits and support grants.
• 📈 The minimum wage reached a record high of ¥1121 nationwide, an increase of ¥66 or 6.3%, contributing to the reduction of inter-prefectural disparities.
• 📊 Real wages showed a positive trend for the first time in seven months, indicating the success of wage increases as a cornerstone of growth strategy.

Disaster Preparedness & Response

• 🛠️ Efforts were made to alleviate the burden on disaster victims by improving living conditions in evacuation centers with facilities like toilets, kitchen cars, and cardboard beds.
• 🚀 The budget and personnel for the Cabinet Office's disaster management were doubled, and a new Disaster Management Agency with dedicated experts and budget will be established next year.
• ⚠️ Emphasized that Japan, a disaster-prone nation, must have world-class disaster response capabilities, preparing for major events like the Nankai Trough earthquake.

Diplomacy and International Relations

• 🤝 The Osaka-Kansai Expo exceeded 20 million visitors and achieved profitability, attracting many international guests.
• 🌍 Over 150 summit meetings were held with 89 countries and organizations, strengthening the Japan-US alliance and building trust with nations across Asia, Africa, and Europe.
• 💬 Significant and sincere discussions were held with leaders including President Trump, President Lee Jae-myung of South Korea, and Prime Minister Modi of India.

Unfinished Business and Political Reforms

• 🚧 Expressed regret for not fully meeting expectations as LDP president and acknowledged that regional revitalization efforts are still halfway.
• 💰 Despite the passage of political reform laws, including the abolition of policy activity expenses and public disclosure of communication expenses, public distrust regarding money in politics persists.
• ✅ Stressed the need for the Liberal Democratic Party to undergo true, fundamental reform to avoid succumbing to easy populism and to regain public trust.

Reasons for Resignation

• 🕊️ The decision to step down was a painful one, made to prevent a decisive split within the LDP that could arise from a demand for an extraordinary leadership election.
• 🙏 Apologized to the public for resigning in this manner and pledged to continue working on national issues with full dedication during the remaining term.