In a final attempt to control the narrative of his downfall, resigning Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has cited the conclusion of US tariff negotiations as the “appropriate moment” for his departure. While politically forced out, he is framing his exit as a strategic and orderly transition.
The reality is that Ishiba’s hand was forced by disastrous election results and an impending party coup. However, the recent news that the US would lower tariffs on Japanese cars provided him with a rare piece of good news to soften his exit. By linking his resignation to this event, he attempts to project an image of leaving on a high note.
This move is a classic political tactic designed to save face and portray a chaotic situation as a planned one. He told reporters that with this key economic negotiation settled, he could now “make way for the next generation” without leaving unfinished business.
Despite this framing, the political world understands the true context. His resignation is a direct consequence of losing control of parliament and his party. The tariff deal is merely a convenient footnote to a premiership that was, by nearly all measures, a political failure.