TOKYO, July 21 (Xinhua) -- In a landmark political setback, Japan's ruling coalition has lost its majority in the House of Councillors, signaling deep public dissatisfaction with the government and casting doubts over Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's ability to govern effectively amid mounting domestic and international pressures.

According to the final vote count completed in the early hours of Monday, the LDP secured only 39 seats of the 125 contested seats while Komeito took eight, below their combined target of 50.

Even with their existing non-contested seats of 75, they now held fewer than the 125 seats needed for a majority in the 248-member upper chamber.

The defeat follows a similar outcome in the 2024 House of Representatives election, leaving the ruling bloc a minority in both chambers of the parliament, a historic first since the LDP's founding in 1955.

The election results underscore the widespread collapse of support for the ruling parties across both urban and rural constituencies. In Japan's 32 single-member electoral districts, the LDP managed to win only 14 seats, marking a major decline even in traditional conservative bastions such as Tohoku and Shikoku.

Widespread voter dissatisfaction with the government's handling of inflation and economic policy was the dominant theme of the campaign. Surveys showed that the electorate's top concern was "countermeasures against rising prices," far outranking national security or constitutional reform.

Previous controversies, including soaring rice prices, ministerial gaffes, and problematic voucher policies, further eroded public trust in the government.

In contrast, opposition parties successfully appealed to frustrated voters by focusing on bread-and-butter issues. The Democratic Party for the People (DPP) emerged as a surprise success, increasing its seat count from nine to 22.

Running under the slogan "A Summer to Raise Take-Home Pay," the party proposed concrete policies such as raising the tax exemption threshold for part-time and temporary workers, and scrapping Japan's gasoline surtax.

Another major winner was the far-right populist Sanseito, which grew from two seats to 15. Embracing a nationalist "Japan First" message and advocating hardline anti-immigration policies, the party leveraged social media to punch far above its weight in the mainstream media landscape.

Associate Professor Shinichi Yamaguchi of the International University noted that Sanseito succeeded in translating online sentiment into real-world electoral gains, setting the agenda on immigration and social identity politics.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who had set the 50-seat benchmark as a minimum threshold for victory, expressed his intention to remain in office despite the setback.

However, the twin losses in both chambers place his leadership under intense scrutiny and severely limit his administration's capacity to push through legislation without the cooperation of opposition parties.

Meanwhile, pressure is mounting from abroad. U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that Washington is preparing to impose 25-percent reciprocal tariffs on Japanese goods starting Aug. 1.

While Japan claimed the election outcome will not impact negotiations, observers are skeptical that Japan will retain strong bargaining power under a weakened administration.

As Japan's upper house election does not directly determine the premiership, Ishiba's continuation in office is technically secure for now. The fractured nature of the opposition, which includes deep divides over constitutional and security policy, makes the change of leadership unlikely.

Nonetheless, internal dissent within the LDP is growing. Some party figures are already discussing the timing of a potential leadership change, local media reported.

The extraordinary session of the Diet this autumn is likely to become a major test. The government must pass a supplementary budget that includes further inflation relief and measures to counter U.S. trade actions. Failure to do so could paralyze the administration.

Political observers warn that Ishiba's leadership is likely to be challenged if instability persists.

As the ruling bloc loses its historical dominance, the future direction of Japanese politics and its ability to navigate domestic hardship and international pressure remains fraught with uncertainty. ■