A vote is mandatory following a general election, and Ishiba is expected to be re-elected in a runoff against the top opposition leader Yoshihiko Noda.

Even so, Ishiba then faces the prospect of running a fragile minority government as protectionist Donald Trump regains control in Japan's main ally the U.S., tensions rise with rivals China and North Korea, and public pressure mounts at home to tackle a cost of living crunch.

Japan’s parliament is set to elect a prime minister Monday in a mid-afternoon vote that’s likely to keep Shigeru Ishiba in the job despite a national election setback, as the premier prepares for an expected meeting with US President-elect Donald Trump later this month.

Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Saturday renewed a pledge to build up his country’s military and deepen its alliance with the United States under President-elect Donald Trump. According to Ishiba,

Japan’s prime minister Shigeru Ishiba on Saturday renewed a pledge to build up his country’s military and deepen its alliance with the US under president-elect Donald Trump. Mr Ishiba, who made the comments at an annual troop review held at Camp Asaka in the Tokyo suburbs,