By-Election Losses Shake Japan's Ruling Party, but Kishida Stays the Course

By-election losses signal low support for Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, or LDP, ahead of the 2025 general election, but Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will likely remain in power at least through September, maintaining Japan's domestic and regional military strengthening efforts. The opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, or CDPJ, won all three lower house parliamentary seats from the ruling LDP in the country's April 28 by-elections. The LDP chose not to field candidates for the Tokyo No. 15 and Nagasaki No. 3 district seats rather than lose the races outright, but the party still fielded LDP politician Norimasa Nishikori for the Shimane No. 1 district seat, which had been an LDP stronghold since 1996. The loss in Shimane came despite Kishida's two visits to the district after the campaign season began on April 16....