The number two in Japan's ruling party offered to quit on Tuesday following July's disastrous upper house election, even as Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba clung on.

The July 20 election saw Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party-led coalition lose its majority, months after also being forced into a minority government in the lower chamber.

"I wish to resign from my position as secretary general to take responsibility for the election results," Hiroshi Moriyama told a party meeting to review the election outcome.

Ishiba, who only took over as LDP chief and prime minister last year, must now decide on Moriyama's fate.

Ishiba himself has so far defied calls from some within the LDP to quit, and on Tuesday he reiterated that he still had work to do.

"Nearly one tenth of workers – close to seven million people – are living at or near the minimum wage," Ishiba said.

"I will make appropriate decisions at an appropriate time. But first and foremost, I believe this means dedicating all my efforts to fulfilling what the people truly want me to accomplish.

"I won't run away from taking responsibility. I have no intention at all to cling onto my position."

Two other top LDP officials – general council chairman Shunichi Suzuki and policy chief Itsunori Onodera – have also conveyed to Ishiba their intentions to quit, media reports said.

The centre-right LDP has governed Japan almost continuously since the 1950s.

Voter support has fallen in recent years because of anger over inflation and corruption scandals within the party.

Opinion polls last week suggested that Ishiba's ratings have bounced back since the election.

In one survey by the Yomiuri Shimbun daily, more respondents, 50 percent, now think Ishiba should remain than those who think he should resign, 42 percent. (AFP)