Japan PM Fumio Kishida To Step Down Amid Sinking Poll Ratings

Fumio Kishida has seen his and his party's poll ratings slide sharply in response to rising prices hitting Japanese incomes and several scandals.

Japan's unpopular Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is set to quit after announcing on Wednesday he will not seek re-election as party chief.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which has governed almost uninterrupted since 1945, is due to hold a leadership contest next month, with the winner to become prime minister.

"In this (party) presidential election, it is necessary to show the people that the LDP is changing and the party is a new LDP," Kishida told reporters in Tokyo.