A nationwide poll by The Yomiuri Shimbun conducted Friday through Sunday found that the approval rating for the Kishida Cabinet stood at 50%, nearly unchanged from 51% in a previous poll conducted on Aug. 10-11.
The disapproval rate breached 40% for the first time, coming in at 41% and up from 34% in the previous poll.
After the July upper house election, the Cabinet's approval rating continued to drop as the Liberal Democratic Party's links to the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification -- widely known as the Unification Church -- came to light. Since the Cabinet was formed, the approval rating has never been lower than it is now, at 50%, but the downward trend has subsided. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's declaration that "it is the basic policy of the Liberal Democratic Party to sever ties with the group," a statement of which 76% of respondents said they approve, is likely to have had an impact on the Cabinet approval rating.
However, it can hardly be said that voters' mistrust of the LDP has been dispelled, as 72% of respondents said they do not believe that the LDP can sever ties with the Unification Church. Among independents, the proportion of those who said they do not believe ties could be severed rose to 83%. The percentage of independents who disapprove of the Cabinet surged to 60% from 44% in a previous survey, pushing up the overall Cabinet disapproval rate.
Fifty-seven percent of respondents said they approve of the decision to reconsider recording the information of every individual infected with the novel coronavirus, while 36% said they disapprove.
When asked which party they supported, 40% chose the LDP, up from 35% in the previous poll, followed by Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party) at 6%, up from 5%, and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan at 5%, down from 6%. Thirty-seven percent of respondents said they did not support any party, unchanged from the previous poll.
81% see China as security threat
The survey found 70% of respondents approve of Japan enhancing its defense capabilities, compared to 24% who disapprove.
Those in favor of enhancing the nation's defense capabilities constituted the majority in all gender and age brackets. By political affiliation, 78% of those who support the ruling camp were in favor, compared to 66% among supporters of the opposition bloc and 63% among swing voters.
The poll's findings may affect discussions about increasing defense spending in the budget compilation toward the end of the year, as well as the debate about revisions of three key defense program documents, including the National Security Strategy.
Another survey finding was that 81% see China as a threat to Japan's national security, while only 15% do not. North Korea was seen as a security threat by 72%, compared to 25% who did not view North Korea that way.
Greater caution was likely felt toward China than North Korea because of such developments as China holding large-scale military drills around Taiwan, and China's rapid military buildup and doubled defense spending over the past decade.
Regarding the restart of nuclear power plants that meet safety criteria, 52% were in favor while 39% were against it. Kishida has instructed relevant ministers to consider building new nuclear power plants, adding new reactors to current plants or rebuilding current nuclear power plants. These instructions were praised by 49%, compared to 44% who said they did not approve.
Acceptance of nuclear power is increasing out of concerns over power shortages. The poll found the younger the respondents, the more positive they were about restarting nuclear power plants, building new ones or adding new reactors to existing plants.
56% disapprove of Abe state funeral
In the opinion poll, 38% of respondents approved of the government's decision to hold a state funeral for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, while 56% disapproved. The latest poll contrasts with an earlier poll conducted Aug. 5-7, when 49% approved and 46% disapproved.
Dissatisfaction with the government's failure to explain the significance of and reasons for holding a state funeral since announcing its decision in July likely led to the increase in negative views.
By age bracket, the younger the respondents were, the greater the percentage that disapproved of the decision.
Among respondents age 18-39, 43% approved of the decision, down by 22 percentage points from the 65% recorded in the August poll, while disapproval soared by 21 percentage points to 49%.
The 40-59 age bracket showed approval dropping from 46% to 36%, with disapproval rising from 50% to 60%.
The state funeral is scheduled for Sept. 27.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
