"Japan Ishiba Cabinet Approval Rating at 28%... Lowest Since Inauguration"

The approval rating of the cabinet led by Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has fallen to its lowest level since its inception. On the 20th, Mainichi Shimbun reported that in a public opinion poll conducted from the 18th to 19th with 2,042 respondents (valid responses), the approval rating of the Ishiba cabinet was recorded at 28%.

It is the first time in the Mainichi Shimbun survey that the approval rating has dropped below 30%. In the monthly public opinion polls, the approval rating of the Ishiba cabinet was 46% immediately after the cabinet's launch in October last year, but it fell to 31% in November, 30% in December, and declined further this month. In Japan, a cabinet approval rating below 30% is generally considered a 'resignation crisis' level.

Shigeru Ishiba, Prime Minister of Japan Yonhap News

According to a public opinion poll conducted by Asahi Shimbun from the 18th to 19th with 1,103 respondents, the approval rating of the Ishiba cabinet was 33%, down 3 percentage points from the previous month. In Asahi Shimbun's monthly polls, the cabinet approval rating was 46% in October last year, 34% in November, and 36% in December, respectively.

Meanwhile, in a survey conducted by Yomiuri Shimbun from the 17th to 19th with 1,015 respondents, the approval rating of the Ishiba cabinet was 40%, showing no significant difference compared to the previous month's 39%. However, in the Yomiuri survey as well, when asked whether they think Prime Minister Ishiba can demonstrate leadership in government operations under a divided Diet with a minority government, 64% responded negatively. When asked whether they believe Prime Minister Ishiba can build a trusting relationship with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, 66% answered 'no.'

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