Back to Story

Audio file not found.

Japan's soon-to-be prime minister faces big challenge as he tries to move past ruling party scandals

Shigeru Ishiba, the newly elected leader of Japan's ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) holds a press conference after the LDP leadership election, in Tokyo Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Pool Photo via AP)

Shigeru Ishiba, the newly elected leader of Japan's ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) holds a press conference after the LDP leadership election, in Tokyo Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Pool Photo via AP)

Shigeru Ishiba, center, waves as he is elected as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party after the party's leadership election, in Tokyo Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)

Shigeru Ishiba, center, waves as he is elected as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party after the party's leadership election, in Tokyo Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)

Shigeru Ishiba, the newly elected leader of Japan's ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) looks on, during a press conference after the LDP leadership election, in Tokyo, Friday, Sept 27, 2024. (Kim Kyung/Pool Photo via AP)

Shigeru Ishiba, the newly elected leader of Japan's ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) looks on, during a press conference after the LDP leadership election, in Tokyo, Friday, Sept 27, 2024. (Kim Kyung/Pool Photo via AP)

Shigeru Ishiba, center, celebrates after he was elected as new head of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) during the party's leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)

Shigeru Ishiba, center, celebrates after he was elected as new head of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) during the party's leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)

Shigeru Ishiba, the newly elected leader of Japan's ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) holds a press conference after the LDP leadership election, in Tokyo Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Pool Photo via AP)

Shigeru Ishiba, the newly elected leader of Japan's ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) holds a press conference after the LDP leadership election, in Tokyo Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Pool Photo via AP)

Shigeru Ishiba, the newly elected leader of Japan's ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) holds a press conference after the LDP leadership election, in Tokyo Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Pool Photo via AP)

Shigeru Ishiba, the newly elected leader of Japan's ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) holds a press conference after the LDP leadership election, in Tokyo Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Pool Photo via AP)

Shigeru Ishiba, the newly elected leader of Japan's ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) holds a press conference after the LDP leadership election, in Tokyo Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Pool Photo via AP)

Shigeru Ishiba, the newly elected leader of Japan's ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) holds a press conference after the LDP leadership election, in Tokyo Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Pool Photo via AP)

Shigeru Ishiba, right, with Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, left, and other candidates, celebrates after Ishiba was elected as new head of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party during its leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)

Shigeru Ishiba, right, with Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, left, and other candidates, celebrates after Ishiba was elected as new head of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party during its leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)

Shigeru Ishiba, the newly elected leader of Japan's ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) holds a press conference after the LDP leadership election, in Tokyo Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Pool Photo via AP)

Shigeru Ishiba, the newly elected leader of Japan's ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) holds a press conference after the LDP leadership election, in Tokyo Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Pool Photo via AP)

A pedestrian takes a copie of an extra edition of the Yomiuri newspaper reporting on Shigeru Ishiba becoming the winner of the Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

A pedestrian takes a copie of an extra edition of the Yomiuri newspaper reporting on Shigeru Ishiba becoming the winner of the Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

Shigeru Ishiba, the newly elected leader of Japan's ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) holds a press conference after the LDP leadership election, in Tokyo Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Pool Photo via AP)

Shigeru Ishiba, the newly elected leader of Japan's ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) holds a press conference after the LDP leadership election, in Tokyo Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Pool Photo via AP)

Shigeru Ishiba, the newly elected leader of Japan's ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) poses in the party leader's office after the LDP leadership election, in Tokyo Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Pool Photo via AP)

Shigeru Ishiba, the newly elected leader of Japan's ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) poses in the party leader's office after the LDP leadership election, in Tokyo Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Pool Photo via AP)