Japan’s ruling coalition loses majority, election outcome in balance

That was down from the 279 seats they held previously and marked the coalition’s worst election result since it briefly lost power in 2009.

“This election has been very tough for us,” a sombre-looking Ishiba told TV Tokyo.

Komeito’s Keiichi Ishii, who took over as that party’s new leader last month, lost in his district.

The biggest winner of the night, the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ), had 148 seats, up from 98 previously, as voters punished Ishiba’s party over a funding scandal and inflation.

The outcome may force parties into fractious power-sharing deals to rule, potentially ushering in political instability as the country faces economic headwinds and a tense security situation in East Asia.