Dhaka, July 21 -- Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's ruling coalition has lost its majority in the 248-seat upper house following Sunday's crucial parliamentary election, deepening political instability in the country, according to NHK public television.

Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior partner Komeito needed to secure 50 additional seats on top of their 75 to maintain control. With only one seat left to be declared, the coalition had managed just 47 - three seats short of the target.

The result marks the first time since its founding in 1955 that the LDP has failed to hold a majority in both houses of parliament, after already losing its grip on the lower house in October.

Despite the defeat, Ishiba pledged...