Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Wednesday that he wants to seek a mandate from the public to “fundamentally change the direction of Japanese society,” after he dissolved the House of Representatives for the Oct. 27 election. Speaking at a press conference, Ishiba acknowledged that winds are blowing against his ruling Liberal Democratic Party, but he set a goal of retaining a majority in the 465-member chamber with its junior coalition partner, the Komeito party.