Japan is reeling from a political upheaval that has sent shockwaves through its long-standing power structure. In a historic upper house election over the weekend, the ruling coalition, led by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its partner Komeito, lost control of the chamber, reportedly marking the first time in over 70 years that the LDP does not control either house of parliament. Despite the setback, Prime Minister Ishiba has vowed to remain in office, saying he “accepts the harsh result,” but emphasized he has no intention of stepping down. What Happened in the Election? On Sunday, Japanese voters elected 124 of the 248 seats in the upper house. The ruling coalition needed to secure at least 50 seats to maintain a majority; they secured just 47. The slim margin belies a broader sentiment: public frustration is boiling over, and new political forces are gaining ground. Among