Shigeru Ishiba
Prime Minister of Japan since 2024
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| April 4 2025 | After President Yoon Suk Yeol's removal from office in South Korea, stated the importance of continued Japan-South Korea cooperation for regional security and peace. |
| April 4 2025 | Held talks with opposition parties regarding the Trump administration's tariffs, with Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato discussing potential retaliatory measures through WTO dispute settlement procedures. |
| April 2 2025 | Trump announced 24% reciprocal tariffs on all Japanese goods, which Ishiba said were 'difficult to understand'. |
| March 2025 | Adjusted Japan's language on Ukraine support from 'strengthen' to 'will maintain' to minimize differences with US policy. |
| March 13 2025 | The Asahi Shimbun newspaper revealed that Ishiba distributed gift certificates worth approximately ¥100,000 to about a dozen newly elected LDP lawmakers, causing a political controversy regarding potential violation of political funds regulations. |
| March 2025 | On a call with US President Joe Biden, Ishiba expressed desire to strengthen the US-Japan Alliance, though he did not immediately raise his proposal to modify the bilateral forces agreement to make the alliance more symmetrical. |
| March 12 2025 | Ishiba met with Komeito Chief Representative Tetsuo Saito, who pledged party support for him, a day before the gift certificate controversy became public. |
| March 11 2025 | Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon remarked during a visit to Manila that the Asian NATO idea could be a way to provide security if done peacefully. |
| 2025 | Began consideration of legislation allowing separate surnames for married couples within the LDP, while remaining cautious about introducing same-sex marriage legislation. |
| March 1 2025 | Attended the Tokyo Girls Collection fashion festival, wearing jeans and sneakers, to promote a 'cute, lively and cool' Japan and the 2025 Osaka World Expo. |
| February 28 2025 | Following a heated exchange between Trump and Zelenskyy at the White House, Ishiba comments on the unexpected turn of events and Japan's commitment to preventing divisions between the US and Ukraine. |
| February 26 2025 | Signed a budget agreement with the LDP, Komeito, and Ishin no Kai party, which included provisions for free high school education and social insurance premium fee cuts. |
| February 2025 | Ishiba announces potential medical and educational support for residents of the Gaza strip during the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. |
| February 2025 | Defense Minister Gen Nakatani reveals plan to provide 30 additional transport vehicles to the Ukrainian military, continuing support during the Russian invasion. |
| February 2025 | Prepared for a meeting with President Trump, seeking advice from Akie Abe (Shinzo Abe's widow) and former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, planning to discuss Japan's US investments and job contributions. |
| February 2025 | Announced additional transport vehicles support for Ukraine's military through the Self-Defense Forces. |
| February 2025 | Japan and the Philippines agree to establish a high-level framework for expanding defense equipment and technology exports from Japan. |
| February 7 2025 | Ishiba meets with President Trump at the White House, discussing trade, investment, and security cooperation, and announcing Japan's $1 billion investment in the United States. |
| February 6 2025 | Ishiba arrives in Washington D.C. to meet with President Trump, accompanied by translator Sunao Takao. |
| January 24 2025 | Delivered a policy speech outlining his vision for a 'fun Japan', emphasizing safety, diversity, self-realization, and prioritizing regional revitalization, gender pay gap, and digitalization. |
| January 2025 | Began consideration of legislation allowing separate surnames for married couples within the Liberal Democratic Party under Ishiba's leadership, despite internal party hesitation from figures like Sanae Takaichi. |
| January 2025 | Ishiba holds a virtual meeting with Biden and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., agreeing to strengthen ties and cooperation. |
| January 2025 | LDP-led Japan-China Parliamentary Friendship Association made its first trip to China since October 2018. |
| January 2025 | Ishiba's government submitted a record-breaking draft budget of over 115 trillion yen for the fiscal year, focusing on social security expenses for the aging population and defense capabilities enhancement. |
| January 2025 | Ishiba's government announced plans to ease visa requirements for Chinese tourists, sparking internal LDP criticism. |
| January 2025 | Ishiba's government announced regulations extending same-sex partner rights to be equivalent to common-law marriages across 24 laws, including victim family benefits. |
| 2024 | Began premiership, marking the start of his leadership of the Japanese government. |
| 2024 | During his first visit to Laos as prime minister, Ishiba did not discuss the Asian NATO proposal with reporters. |
| 2024 | After Donald Trump's election victory, Ishiba publicly congratulated him and expressed desire to meet, though unlike Shinzo Abe, he did not meet Trump during the transition period. |
| 2024 | Immediately after becoming Prime Minister, Ishiba announced a snap general election in which the LDP coalition lost its majority for the first time since 2009. |
| 2024 | After Donald Trump wins the 2024 presidential election, Ishiba publicly congratulates him and expresses desire to meet. |
| December 2024 | Minister of Foreign Affairs Takeshi Iwaya visited China, seen as a sign of improving diplomatic ties. |
| December 17 2024 | As Prime Minister, Ishiba made a significant statement about same-sex marriage during a parliamentary session, expressing empathy and acknowledging the importance of fulfilling the wishes of same-sex couples for their national happiness. |
| November 2024 | Ishiba meets with US President Joe Biden and Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in South Korea, during the closing months of Biden's presidency. |
| November 2024 | Urged US President Joe Biden to approve Nippon-US Steel deal, which Biden ultimately blocked. |
| November 2024 | Ishiba meets with US President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol at the APEC summit in Peru, discussing regional cooperation. |
| November 11 2024 | Ishiba was reelected as prime minister of a minority government during a Diet session, winning 221 votes in a runoff against Yoshihiko Noda of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, who secured 160 votes. This marked the first time in 30 years a Japanese prime minister needed a runoff vote. |
| October 2024 | Sent a ritual offering to Yasukuni Shrine, which drew criticism from South Korea. |
| October 9 2024 | The Lower House voted to dissolve the extraordinary Diet session, despite opposition resistance. |
| October 4 2024 | Delivered first policy speech, highlighting Japan's low birth rate as a 'quiet emergency' and addressing regional security concerns, while pledging economic recovery and Imperial House stabilization. |
| October 1 2024 | Ishiba was formally elected Prime Minister of Japan by the National Diet after defeating Sanae Takaichi in the LDP presidential election. |
| October 1 2024 | Elected by the National Diet and appointed as Prime Minister by Emperor Naruhito at Tokyo Imperial Palace, becoming the 25th Liberal Democratic Prime Minister. |
| September 2024 | Ishiba proposed an 'Asian NATO' security alliance with the US-Japan alliance at its core, aiming to counter security threats from China, Russia, and North Korea by strengthening relationships with multiple countries. |
| September 30 2024 | Ishiba announced plans to dissolve the House of Representatives on 9 October and call a snap general election for 27 October 2024. |
| September 27 2024 | Shigeru Ishiba narrowly defeated Sanae Takaichi in the LDP leadership election, winning 215 votes (52.57%) and becoming the new LDP leader. The election was dubbed 'Ishibamania' by foreign media. |
| August 14 2024 | Fumio Kishida announced he would not seek re-election as LDP leader, setting the stage for leadership succession. |
| January 2024 | Ishiba argued that the absence of a collective self-defense system in Asia increases the likelihood of regional wars, advocating for an Asian collective security alliance to deter potential conflicts. |
| January 24 2024 | Shigeru Ishiba delivered a policy speech outlining his vision for a 'fun Japan', emphasizing national safety, respect for diverse values, and self-realization, with priorities including regional revitalization, addressing gender pay gap, and digitalization. |
| 2020 | Ishiba ran for the LDP leadership election following Abe's resignation but placed third behind Yoshihide Suga. |
| 2019 | During the Japan–South Korea trade dispute, Ishiba stated that the root of problems between Japan and South Korea is Japan's failure to face up to its wartime responsibility. |
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