Is Prime Minister Kishida Leading Japan by Default?
With plummeting approval ratings, Kishida’s biggest strength seems to be that there’s no obvious candidate to replace him.
Published on the 22 November 2023 by Professor Aurelia George Mulgan
Credit: Prime Minister’s Office of Japan
Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio’s plummeting popularity is raising serious questions about his future prospects. While successfully steering Japan on a course toward major military power status and global diplomatic prominence, his domestic political fortunes have never been more in doubt. A stark contrast is becoming apparent between Kishida’s successes in the conduct of Japan’s international relations and his expanding list of domestic policy shortcomings. The lack of an obvious replacement for the job, however, raises the question whether Kishida remains Japan’s prime minister by default.