Shigeru Ishiba is a Japanese politician who has served as Prime Minister of Japan and President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) since October 1, 2024. Born on February 4, 1957, in Tokyo, he hails from Yazu Town in Tottori Prefecture, where his father was a former governor. Ishiba graduated from the Faculty of Law at Keio University and began his career in banking before entering politics. First elected to the House of Representatives in 1986 at age 29, Ishiba became one of Japan’s youngest lawmakers. A long-standing LDP member, he briefly left the party in the 1990s as part of a group advocating political reform before rejoining in 1997. He held several key ministerial roles, including Minister of State for Defense (2002–2004), Minister of Defense (2007–2008), and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. In 2014, he was appointed as Japan’s first Minister in charge of Overcoming Population Decline and Vitalizing Local Economy, focusing on rural revitalization and decentralizing government functions, including relocating the Agency for Cultural Affairs to Kyoto. Ishiba ran for LDP leadership in 2008, 2012, 2018, and 2020, but was unsuccessful until September 27, 2024, when he won the LDP presidential election, defeating several prominent rivals. He was formally appointed Prime Minister on October 1, 2024. Following lower house elections in October 2024, the LDP-led coalition lost its majority, leaving Ishiba to lead a minority government. In November 2024, he was narrowly reelected by parliament in a rare runoff vote, the first in over 30 years, and continued with a largely unchanged cabinet. In September 2025, Ishiba announced his intention to resign as both Prime Minister and LDP President, citing the need to prevent deep divisions within the party after electoral setbacks in both houses of parliament.