Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who launched his second Cabinet on Monday, faces a tightrope walk, as he leads a minority government following his ruling bloc's major election setback last month and thus must seek the support of opposition parties for passing budgets and legislation.
After losing their combined majority in the House of Representatives in the Oct. 27 general election, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its Komeito ally are particularly hoping to gain cooperation from the opposition Democratic Party for the People, which quadrupled its Lower House seats to 28 in the closely watched national election.
As the opposition side is seen ramping up pressure on the Ishiba government ahead of next summer's election for the Upper House, however, even a single mistake could put the administration into jeopardy.
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