Pakistan, July 20 -- Japanese citizens are casting their votes in a closely watched upper house election that could reshape the country's political future and weaken Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's leadership. The election comes at a time when rising prices and immigration concerns have led to public dissatisfaction, making the vote a crucial test for the ruling coalition.

Recent opinion polls suggest that Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its partner Komeito might fail to secure the 50 seats needed to maintain control of the 248-member upper house. This could open the door for smaller opposition parties pushing for tax cuts, increased public spending, and stricter immigration laws to make significant gains in parliament.

If t...