A political recess in August has done little to shore up Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s position as her popularity has continued to fade.
The prime minister faces a difficult eight-month stretch in which she will have to advance critical pieces of her agenda through the Diet.
A successful cabinet and party leadership reshuffle in September will be a key step in shoring up her position, though striking the right balance will be fraught and a reshuffle alone is unlikely to stabilize her position.
