Japan's Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on Monday announced his intention to resign, one month after he reshuffled his cabinet. At a press conference held from 9:30 p.m. Fukuda stated that he decided to resign, thinking the government should implement policies with a new line-up. The cabinet will resign en masse and a new prime minister will be designated. Before that, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will elect a new President. 
Since the July 2007 election (to replace half the members) in the upper house, the ruling bloc (LDP and New Komeito) has been minority, while being overwhelming majority in the lower house since the 2005 General Election. Fukuda took over Shinzo Abe as a LDP President, and became Japan's Prime Minister on September 26, 2007. 
At the Monday conference Fukuda, age 72, noted that some matters important to people's life should be deliberated in the upcoming extraordinary Diet session, such as a supplementary budget and a draft to set up a new agency of consumer affairs. Fukuda criticized the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) for uncooperativeness in the annual Diet session (earlier this year) with tactics to delay deliberations. Fukuda said he thought the government must be well ready formed to attend the upcoming Diet session. 
Fukuda's predecessor Shinzo Abe also suddenly showed resignation last year, later confessing his health problems. Questioned about the similarity, Fukuda replied he had no particular health problem except his poorer eyesight, and emphasized he considered how the course of politics should be before he made this decision. 
Fukuda's announcement came half a day after Ichiro Ozawa, the President of the main opposition DPJ, expressed his will to seek a third term.
After hosting Hokkaidō Tōyako Summit in July, Fukuda reshuffled his cabinet on August 2. At the Monday conference Fukuda was questioned about his view on this early resignation, and Fukuda replied it was natural he was asked why. Fukuda continued that at the time of the reshuffle he had eagerness at least for important matters, those on economy in particular, and he thought they were settled by the last weekend, somehow or other. Fukuda explained he changed his mind, taking into account various political situations of this one month, with hope for the upcoming Diet session to be run smoothly. 
Now it's clear Fukuda won't choose dissolution of the lower house. Japan's next lower house General Election should be held no later than September, 2009. 
Looking back on his 11 months, Fukuda said he undertook the job last September knowing there lay difficulties in his way, after the ruling bloc lost majority in the upper house as a result of the July 2007 election. Fukuda said he was very busy from the beginning handling longstanding problems that surfaced one after another, including the issue of mismatched or lost pension records and the scandals as to the Ministry of Defense. Fukuda noted that he, despite such troubles, maybe not outstandingly, put his hand to some reforms from the public perspective, such as generalization of the revenue earmarked for roadways affairs, draft-making for a new consumer agency, drastic review of social security systems.
Below are reactions of Japanese politicians shown on the Monday night.

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Japan's Prime Minister Fukuda announces resignation