Takaichi Cabinet Receives 2nd-Highest Initial Support after Koizumi

Tokyo, Nov. 13 (Jiji Press)–The approval rating for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s cabinet stands at 63.8 pct, the second highest for a fledgling Japanese administration, the results of a Jiji Press poll showed Thursday. The rating is surpassed only by the 72.8 pct initial support expressed for the first cabinet of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in 2001 since polls began in 1960. The figure far exceeds the 40.3 pct for the initial cabinet of former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in 2021 and 28.0 pct for that of former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in 2024. The latest poll results indicate that Takaichi garnered high expectations as Japan’s first female prime minister. They are also seen as reflecting the positive assessment of her series of diplomatic engagements with world leaders immediately after taking office. Respondents who do not support the cabinet made up 10.8 pct, while 25.4 pct were unsure. The interview poll of 2,000 respondents aged 18 or over across Japan was conducted from Friday through Monday. Valid responses came from 59.1 pct. As reasons for their support, with multiple answers allowed, 29.2 pct said Takaichi displays leadership. Respondents who answered that they trust the prime minister accounted for 23.5 pct and 22.2 pct said they have a good impression of her. Respondents who said they do not back the cabinet because they have no expectations for it marked 4.3 pct, while 3.4 pct said they do not trust Takaichi and 3.3 pct answered that they do not agree with her policies. Respondents who said they highly evaluate the administration led by the coalition between the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its new ally, Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party), made up 38.0 pct, while 22.2 pct said they do not and 39.8 pct said they were unsure. Of LDP supporters, 63.6 pct thought highly of the coalition administration, while 88.2 pct of Nippon Ishin supporters did so. Negative responses to the coalition came from 14.0 pct of LDP supporters and 5.9 pct of those backing Nippon Ishin, respectively. Of supporters of Komeito, the LDP’s former coalition ally, 42.1 pct said they do not think highly of the current coalition administration. Support for the LDP went up 2.1 points from the previous survey in October to 21.8 pct. Sanseito, an opposition party, was backed by 4.0 pct, down from 4.8 pct in the October survey, but still ranking top among opposition parties for a fourth consecutive month. Support for the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan decreased to 3.6 pct from 4.2 pct, and that for the Democratic Party for the People fell to 3.5 pct from 3.8 pct. Respondents backing Komeito accounted for 3.2 pct, Nippon Ishin 2.9 pct, Reiwa Shinsengumi 1.8 pct, the Japanese Communist Party 0.9 pct, the Conservative Party of Japan 0.9 pct and no party 54.4 pct. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]