'Pulling a Joe Biden': Reactions to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's resignation

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is stepping down in September, a move that sparked a broad range of reactions from government officials and analysts.

By choosing to not run for reelection as leader of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Kishida has effectively left the door open for a new prime minister to take the helm of the world's fourth-largest economy.

One expert said the move was reminiscent of U.S. President Joe Biden dropping out of the presidential race less than a month ago.

"To me this is Kishida 'pulling a Joe Biden' and realizing (wisely) he's just not the best face for his party come election time," said William Pesek, author of "Japanization: What the World Can Learn from Japan's Lost Decades."

While Biden withdrew in the wake of a disastrous debate performance, Kishida's tenure was hounded by a scandal embroiling his party as well as an economy prone to deflationary pressure.

The leader of Japan's largest opposition, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, noted those issues have "not yet been resolved" and pledged his party would continue to pursue action to do so. Still, Izumi thanked Kishida for his hard work, adding "Prime Minister Kishida, you must have been under a lot of pressure."

In a press conference Wednesday, Kishida said that it is important for the LDP to have a new face in leadership and that he felt the need to step down in order for the LDP to regain the public's trust, according to a Reuters translation.

Still, diplomats and officials issued thanked Kishida for his leadership, reflecting on the relationships they developed with Japan during his time as prime minister.

"The prime minister is a true friend of the United States and Japan has become a true global partner for