Japan's prime minister resigns after his party suffered a historic defeat in a summer election

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced Sunday that he will resign, following growing calls from within his party to take responsibility for a historic defeat in July’s parliamentary election.

Ishiba, who took office in October, said he was stepping down as prime minister and as the head of his conservative Liberal Democratic Party.

Ishiba, a 68-year-old centrist, had resisted demands from opponents further to the right within his own party to resign. He argued that he wanted to avoid a political vacuum at a time when Japan faces key domestic and international challenges, including U.S. tariffs, rising prices and growing tensions in the Asia-Pacific.

Ishiba explained at a news conference Sunday night that he had intended for some time to take responsibility for his party's summer election loss, but was first determined to make progress in tariff negotiations with the United States. He described it as matter of the national interest.

“Who would seriously negotiate with a government whose leader says he is stepping down?" Ishiba said.

He said the moment had arrived with an order by U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday to lower tariffs on Japanese cars and other products from 25% to 15%.

“Having reached a milestone in the U.S. tariff negotiations, I decided now is the time to make way for a successor," Ishiba said.

The resignation came one day before Ishiba's party was to decide whether to hold an early leadership election, which would have amounted to a virtual no-confidence motion against him if approved.

He said he made the “painful decision to resign” to avert that step because “it would cause a critical division within the party, and that is absolutely not my intention.”

Ishiba said he would instead start a process to hold a party leadership vote to choose his replacement, which is expected to be held in October. He is to remain as prime minister until a new leader is elected and endorsed by the parliament.

Ishiba’s leadership that lasted only one year underscores the instability of Japan’s minority government.

A maverick who won the leadership in his fifth attempts, Ishiba said he regrets he could not live up to voters' expectations for change. “As a result, I failed to go my own way, and I wonder how I could have done better,” he said.

He said he is not going to run in the next leadership race, even though he regrets leaving behind unfinished business, such as measures for salary increases, agricultural reforms and further strengthening Japan's security. He asked his future successor to tackle the issues he cherished.

In July, Ishiba’s ruling coalition failed to secure a majority in the 248-seat upper house in a crucial parliamentary election, weakening his government. The loss followed a defeat in the more powerful lower house, where the party-led coalition lost its majority in October, only two weeks after Ishiba took over.

Liberal Democratic lawmakers who support the prime minister said those who lost seats were largely ultra-conservatives who were linked to corruption scandals before Ishiba took office. Public polling showed that pressure on Ishiba to resign had the reverse effect and caused his support to grow.

Calls for Ishiba to step down grew after the Liberal Democratic Party last week called for a “complete overhaul” of the party following its losses.

Taro Aso, a conservative heavyweight known for his anti-Ishiba stance, and a minister and several deputy ministers in the Ishiba Cabinet requested an early vote, prompting others to follow suit.

Former Health Minister Norihisa Tamura said on a talk show of the public broadcaster NHK earlier Sunday that the best way to heal party divisions and move forward is for Ishiba “to settle” the dispute before Monday’s vote. The party has already been distracted from necessary work on economic measures and on figuring out ways to gain opposition support in the next parliamentary session, Tamura said.

Possible candidates to replace Ishiba include Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, as well as ultra-conservative former economic security minister Sanae Takaichi and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, a moderate and the protege of former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

Lacking a majority in both houses, the next party leader will have to work with the main opposition parties to get bills passed, experts say, or else face constant risks of no-confidence motions.

The opposition parties, however, are too splintered to form a coalition to topple the government.

Voters say they want to see the party move forward and get down to work but they worry about uncertainty.

Office worker Takahiro Uchi welcomed Ishiba's resignation, as he hopes for change, "but at the same time, there is also uncertainty and concern about who will take over next.” Masataka Nishioka, who works for a dental equipment company, said, “I really hope for a kind of politics that makes life easier for everyone.”

AP video journalist Ayaka McGill in Tokyo contributed.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba arrives at the prime minister's office in Tokyo, Japan, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (Kyodo News via AP)

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks during a press conference at the prime minister's office in Tokyo, Japan, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (Kyodo News via AP)

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks to the media at the prime minister's office in Tokyo, Japan, on Sept. 5, 2025. (Kyodo News via AP)

FILE - Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba attends a press conference at the headquarters of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in Tokyo Monday, July 21, 2025 after the prime minister's ruling coalition failed to secure a majority in the upper house in a parliamentary election. (Philip Fong/Pool Photo via AP, File)

FILE - Shigeru Ishiba, Japan's Prime Minister and president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) meets the media at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo, Sunday, July 20, 2025. (Franck Robichon, Pool Photo via AP, File)

FILE - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba delivers a speech during the Japan India Economic Forum in Tokyo Friday, Aug. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Eagles are positioned again to make a strong run at another Super Bowl — not solely on the arm of Jalen Hurts, the legs of Saquon Barkley and other marquee offensive players all NFL fans know — but on a defense that has churned out a string of masterpieces that fired them to the top of the NFC.

Get to know these names. It might come in handy around early February.

Jalen Carter. Jordan Davis. Jaelan Phillips. Nakobe Dean.

The Lions were just the latest playoff hopeful to have their best efforts derailed by Vic Fangio's crew.

Hurts scored the only touchdown in an otherwise feeble effort from the Philadelphia Eagles' offense, and it was enough to lead them to a 16-9 win over the Detroit Lions, who failed on every fourth-down try Sunday night.

“As I watch football today, I saw a lot of teams waiting to lose,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “Our team's waiting to win. Because they know how to win. There's something to be said for that, of knowing how to win.”

The Eagles (8-2) are the only team in the NFC East with more than three wins and the second one in the conference to eight victories, putting them in pole position to take the top seed and earn home-field advantage as the Super Bowl champions go for a repeat.

Hurts threw for only 135 yards, Barkley ran for 83 in another average outing a season after he topped 2,000-yards rushing, and former 1,000-yard receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith combined for nine catches for 57 yards. They have scored only a combined 26 points the last two games —- both wins.

Yet those struggles didn't matter much against a Detroit team that seemed happy to try and give the game away. The Lions, who entered averaging 31.4 points per game, failed to convert on five fourth-down attempts and were 3 of 13 on third down.

“Five-for-five the way we look at it,” Sirianni said. “Outstanding.”

Carter and Davis did their part with a combined five batted passes. Phillips, a trade-deadline pickup, had five tackles, a sack and four QB pressures.

“One of the best performances I've ever seen,” Hurts said.

Lions coach Dan Campbell replaced offensive coordinator John Morton as the play-caller last week. Campbell wasn’t ready to say it was a permanent move, although he called plays again against the Eagles.

Campbell wasn’t much of an improvement.

The Lions’ notable failure came late in the third quarter while trailing 13-6 after Jared Goff connected with Jahmyr Gibbs for a 42-yard gain that took the ball to the Eagles 22. The Lions went on to get a first-and-goal at the 8, but they turned the ball over on downs.

“They’re a good ... defense,” Goff said.

The Eagles at least took advantage of their best scoring chance inside the 10.

Barkley had a 5-yard TD run in the second quarter overturned by a replay review, a momentary setback once Hurts scored from 1 yard out — yes, on a tush push — with 16 seconds left to send the Eagles into halftime with a 13-6 lead.

Jake Elliott kicked field goals of 27 and 34 yards in the half. He made a 49-yarder in the fourth for a 16-6 lead.

Goff — who went 14 of 37 for 255 yards —- hit Jameson Williams for a 40-yard score that tied the game at 6-all late in the second quarter. Williams celebrated by jumping onto the goal post padding and bear-hugging the upright, which earned him a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

On a blustery night in Philly, those lost yards cost the Lions when Jake Bates was wide right on the 48-yard extra point. Bates did kick a 54-yard field goal with 1:58 left.

Hurts tried to force the ball to an unhappy Brown early after yet another week of complaints from the wide receiver about his role in the offense.

Brown’s production has severely declined this season -- he was targeted just three times last week at Green Bay -- and he took to social media afterward to express his displeasure, saying on Twitch that fantasy owners should drop him from their teams.

Brown — who stood by his pervious complaints as he otherwise praised the team — finished with seven catches for 49 yards against the Lions.

“It was me trying to help contribute, that’s all,” Brown said.

Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean had his first career regular-season interception when he picked off Goff's pass in the first quarter that led to a field goal.

The second-year standout, of course, is mostly remembered from an interception in last season's Super Bowl. DeJean became the first player in Super Bowl history to intercept a pass or score a touchdown on his birthday when he returned a poor throw by Patrick Mahomes 38 yards for a TD.

Lions: All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph missed his fourth straight game with a knee injury.

Eagles: OL Lane Johnson was ruled out at halftime with a foot injury. Johnson left last week's win against Green Bay with an ankle injury in the second quarter but returned in the fourth.

Lions: Host the New York Giants next Sunday.

Eagles: At Dallas next Sunday.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) is stopped with the ball during the second half of an NFL football game by Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) and Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) is stopped with the ball during the second half of an NFL football game by Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) and Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams celebrates scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) reacts after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) looks to pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) is stopped with the ball during the second half of an NFL football game by Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) and Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)