In the recent election for the 27th House of Councillors in Japan, the ruling coalition — the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito — suffered a major defeat. This marks the second consecutive setback for the LDP after losing its majority in the 2024 House of Representatives vote. Although the upper house wields less constitutional power than the lower house, the election has drawn intense scrutiny because it serves as a key barometer of Japan’s political trajectory. Japan is now in the throes of political fragmentation: In this election, the LDP managed to secure 39 seats, while the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party won 22. But the return of Donald Trump to the White House has brought uncertainty to Japan.