Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is set to resign. The country's state broadcaster NHK reported on Friday (August 27th) that he was resigning due to health problems. Abe is scheduled to hold a press conference in the afternoon. There he is expected to announce his resignation.

Japan's state-run media, NHK, has reported that Abe is set to resign so that his health does not deteriorate.

Shinzo Abe was admitted to a hospital in the capital, Tokyo, on the morning of August 16 after falling seriously ill. Although officially referred to as a regular health check-up for the Prime Minister, rumors of Abe's resignation have been circulating in Japan's political arena as well as in the country's media ever since.

Leaders of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party say Abe is currently in good health but has been rumored to have been hospitalized twice. Many have questioned his ability to run the state, especially as he recently spent more than seven and a half hours in hospital.

Abe has been Japan's prime minister for almost eight years. Through this, he has set the record of being in power for the longest time in Japan. His term is set to expire in September 2021.