Tokyo : Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has decided to resign to avoid a split within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, public broadcaster NHK said on Sunday.

The Prime Minister’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment, although NHK reported that Ishiba would hold a news conference at 7pm AEST.

With Ishiba at the helm, the LDP-led coalition has lost its majority in elections for both houses of parliament since coming to power last year, amid voter anger over rising living costs.

Ishiba, who took office in October, has resisted demands to take responsibility from mostly right-wing opponents within his own party for more than a month.

His move comes one day before LDP lawmakers will decide whether to hold an early leadership election – a virtual no-confide

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