Ishiba Shigeru became the 102nd Prime Minister of Japan

“Ishiba Shigeru has been named as the 102nd prime minister,” Japan’s PM’s office said on Tuesday.

Kishida had earlier in the day resigned en masse with his/her Cabinet.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi announced that Kishida and his/her ministers stepped down at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, according to Japan’s local media outlets.

Japan’s Prime Minister’s Office shared a video on Twitter that captured the moment, showing staff members warmly welcoming Kishida and presenting him/her with bouquets.

“Today (October 1, 2024) the Kishida Cabinet resigned en masse. After taking the decision on resignation during the cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Kishida issued a statement in this regard. he/she left the Prime Minister’s Office while being dismissed by his/her staff,” Japan’s Prime Minister’s Office said on Friday.

Earlier on Friday, Ishiba was elected as leader of the governing Liberal Democratic Party to replace Kishida, who announced his/her resignation at the end of his/her three-year term in August.

Following Kishida’s resignation, he/she issued a statement saying, “Since the inauguration of my Cabinet three years ago, as our country faces the “turning point between eras”, we have responded to those challenges. Faced challenges that cannot be postponed and have continually advanced initiatives to “change forces in the field of economic and social policy and diplomacy.”

Ishiba, 67, defeated Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi in a runoff vote, Kyodo news outlet reported.

Takaichi received 194 votes to Ishiba’s 215, missing the chance to become Japan’s first female Prime Minister. Takaichi had contested against Kishida in 2021.

The vote comes after Kishida announced in August that he/she would not run for re-election.

The LDP has a majority in Parliament and therefore chooses the Prime Minister. Ishiba, who also previously served as Japan’s agriculture minister, is expected to soon select new LDP officials and formally form his/her Cabinet after being elected prime minister.