Japan Suga Cabinet Approval Rating Declines... "57% Support"

64% to 57% Drop Immediately After Inauguration
Suspected Impact of Refusal to Appoint Members of the Japanese Science Council

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki Ha-young] The approval rating of the cabinet of Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, which was launched last September, continues to decline.

According to a public opinion poll conducted on the 7th by Mainichi Shimbun in collaboration with the Social Research Center, targeting 1,040 people aged 18 and over nationwide (based on valid responses), the approval rating of the Suga cabinet was 57%. This is a 7 percentage point drop compared to the 64% recorded in the survey conducted on September 17, the day after the new cabinet was launched. In particular, the percentage of respondents who said they did not support the cabinet rose by 9 percentage points from 27% to 36%. Reflecting the downward trend in the Suga cabinet's approval rating, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's approval rating fell by 7 percentage points from 44% in the previous survey to 37%.

The main factor driving down the Suga cabinet's approval rating has not been revealed. However, it is believed that the controversy surrounding the refusal to appoint members of the Science Council of Japan, who have expressed critical views on government policies, has had some impact.

Regarding the issue of Prime Minister Suga not appointing six new members recommended by the Science Council of Japan, 37% of respondents pointed out it was a problem, which was less than the 44% who answered that they did not think it was a problem. However, Mainichi Shimbun analyzed that the refusal to appoint was one factor that lowered the approval rating, noting that about 80% of those who said it was a problem also stated that they "do not support" the Suga cabinet.

Regarding the Suga cabinet's consideration of reforming the Science Council of Japan in light of this controversy, 58% responded that it was "appropriate," surpassing the 24% who said it was "inappropriate," indicating strong voices calling for reform of the council.

As for Prime Minister Suga's policy to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, a majority of 68% supported it. Among the measures to realize this, 72% chose expanding renewable energy sources, while only 6% selected increasing nuclear power plants.

Regarding the Japanese government's consideration of releasing radioactive contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean, 47% effectively supported it for the reason of "it cannot be helped," slightly exceeding the 43% who answered "other methods should be considered."

On the issue of the Japanese government refusing to ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which will come into effect in January next year, 70% responded that "Japan should participate" in the treaty, indicating a high public demand for a change in the government's stance.

As for the preferred next U.S. president from Japan's perspective, 42% chose Democratic candidate Joe Biden, and 29% chose President Donald Trump, showing that more Japanese people hope for Biden's victory in the upcoming election.

Meanwhile, in this survey, the most suitable candidates for the next prime minister were Prime Minister Suga (19%), Administrative Reform Minister Taro Kono (16%), former LDP Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba (11%), and Constitutional Democratic Party leader Yukio Edano, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi (each 3%), in that order of support.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.