Japan votes in a key election as Prime Minister Ishiba faces a possible loss

Voters fill in their ballots in the upper house election at a polling station Sunday, July 20, 2025, in Tokyo.

Soaring prices, lagging incomes and burdensome social security payments are the top issues for frustrated, cash-strapped voters. Stricter measures targeting foreign residents and visitors have also emerged as a key issue, with a surging right-wing populist party leading the campaign.

(Image credit: Eugene Hoshiko)