<h1>Japan's Prime Minister faces tough upper house election amid economic pressures and US tariff threats</h1> Japan's Prime Minister faces a challenging upper house election amid economic pressures including rising prices and US tariff threats. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party previously suffered losses in October due to corruption scandals and high costs, forcing the current minority government to make opposition concessions for legislative passage. Key voter concerns include doubled rice prices, lagging wages, and social security burdens. The US President's tariff demands and trade complaints have added pressure. Populist parties are gaining support, with some promoting anti-foreign policies targeting immigration and welfare benefits for non-Japanese residents. Opposition parties remain fractured despite gaining ground from disappointed ruling party supporters. A poor election performance could trigger leadership instability, while victory would still leave the government weakened and dependent on opposition cooperation for policy implementation.