Sun Jul 20 21:59:02 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a news article rewrite of the provided text, written from the Indian perspective and stylized as a piece from “The Hindu”:

**Summary:**

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba faces a crisis after his ruling coalition lost ground in upper house elections. The defeat, fueled by voter discontent over rising prices and perceived inaction on U.S. tariffs, has emboldened the opposition and triggered internal party doubts about Ishiba’s leadership. While Ishiba vows to stay on to manage trade talks, his position is precarious, facing a potential no-confidence vote. Adding to the instability is the rise of the far-right Sanseito party, signaling a shift towards populist sentiment in Japan.

**News Article:**

**Ishiba Clings to Power as Ruling Coalition Stumbles in Japan, Populist Right Gains Ground**

**Tokyo, July 21, 2025:** Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is facing a turbulent political landscape in Japan after his ruling coalition suffered a significant setback in upper house elections held on Sunday. The results have triggered internal dissent within his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and opened the door for a potential no-confidence motion from the opposition.

Despite the setback, Ishiba, speaking at a press conference on Monday, insisted he would remain in office to navigate crucial tariff negotiations with the United States and address rising consumer prices that are impacting the Japanese economy. However, analysts suggest his hold on power is tenuous, particularly after losing control of the lower house last year.

“The political situation has become fluid,” said Norihiro Yamaguchi, lead Japan economist at Oxford Economics. “While Prime Minister Ishiba will likely stay to complete the tariff negotiations with the U.S. for now, this could lead to a leadership change or reshuffling of the coalition in coming months.”

Voter frustration appears to stem from rising living costs and a perceived lack of progress in averting tariffs threatened by the United States. Hideaki Matsuda, a company manager, voiced the sentiment shared by many: “Had the ruling party resolved even one of these issues, it (its approval rate) would have gone up, but we didn’t feel anything.”

Adding to the complexity is the emergence of the far-right Sanseito party, which made significant gains in the election by capitalizing on anti-immigration rhetoric and warnings of foreign influence. The party, initially launched on YouTube and known for spreading conspiracy theories, secured 14 additional seats, potentially signaling a shift towards populist politics in Japan – a development that bears watching given the global rise of similar movements.

Meanwhile, Japan’s chief tariff negotiator Ryosei Akazawa departed for Washington for trade talks, marking his eighth visit in three months. Whether these negotiations can provide a much-needed boost to Ishiba’s standing remains to be seen, as he faces growing pressure from within his own party and a resurgent opposition eager to exploit the government’s vulnerabilities.

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