India, Sept. 7 -- After a turbulent year in office, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced his resignation, bringing an early end to a tenure defined by a series of defeats and resistance within his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

While Ishiba's departure is believed to be associated with mounting internal pressure within the party, his exit raises a far more pressing question: What comes next for Japan's leadership and who will take the post?

The Liberal Democratic Party was set to hold a vote on Monday on whether to bring forward a leadership election by two years, in what looked increasingly likely to turn into a vote of no confidence in the premier, as local media surveys showed support for an early race gaining ste...