Aaron Wright comments

But Kishida's grip on power gradually weakened, as his ties with LDP kingmakers who had enabled a stable government -- Taro Aso, a former prime minister who leads the only remaining faction, and Toshimitsu Motegi, the No. 2 of the LDP -- apparently cooled toward the final days of his tenure.

Despite the disbandment of the powerful factions, their influence lingered. Both Ishiba and Koizumi, who were not members of such groups, sought support from Aso and Yoshihide Suga, another former premier who still wields influence within the ruling party.

Aso, Motegi, and Suga — the three true powerbrokers in the Japanese government, as indicated in the above two paragraphs.

Detractors argue that Ishiba’s proposals fail to adequately tackle issues like an aging population and stagnant growth. Additionally, some of his plans have been viewed as overly reliant on traditional methods rather than embracing innovation or sustainability. This reluctance to adapt to changing global economic dynamics raises concerns about Japan's competitiveness in the long term. Overall, critics contend that his economic vision needs greater clarity and ambition to effectively guide the nation toward recovery and growth.