Japanese Prime Minister Shizo keeps high approval rating, but decides to resign. Why?

Less than a year into his term, Japanese Prime Minister Shizo has made the decision to step down. According to Xinhua News Agency, Shizo has decided to resign from his position as Prime Minister in order to avoid a split within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Japan Broadcasting Corporation reported that Shizo is expected to formally announce his resignation at a press conference at the Prime Minister’s official residence at 6:00 PM local time on the 7th (5:00 PM Beijing time). Shizo was elected as the president of the Liberal Democratic Party in September last year, with a term lasting until September 2027. It is worth noting that on the 8th, the Liberal Democratic Party will decide whether to hold an early presidential election in response to their previous ‘worst performance.’ Since its establishment in 1955, the Liberal Democratic Party has been the dominant force in Japanese politics. Once the party elects a new leader, if the party holds a majority in the House of Representatives at that time, it will support the newly elected leader to become the new Prime Minister. This…