The cabinet led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has maintained a 62% approval rating as it marks its first anniversary in office.
Nearly half of respondents expressed concerns about the Prime Minister's handling of the resignation of former Agriculture Minister Kazuo Yana, yet this did not affect the cabinet's approval rating. While there is strong support for lowering the food consumption tax, opinions on the Prime Minister's response to rising prices and the weak yen are mixed. A majority believe that opportunities for dialogue with China should be increased.
The Nikkei reported on October 26 that a poll conducted from October 23 to 25 showed the Takaichi cabinet's approval rating remained unchanged at 62%. The percentage of respondents who do not support the cabinet decreased by 2 percentage points to 31%. Among supporters of the Liberal Democratic Party, the approval rating was 89%, showing little change, while it rose by 8 percentage points to 46% among undecided voters. By age group, 73% of those under 39, 65% of those in their 40s and 50s, and 56% of those over 60 expressed support.
Since its launch in October 2025, the Takaichi cabinet has consistently maintained an approval rating above 50% throughout the year, making it only the second cabinet since Shinzo Abe's second administration to achieve this milestone, according to the Nikkei, which began its polling in 1987.
However, criticism of the Prime Minister's response to Yana's resignation was prevalent. The response was deemed problematic by 48% of respondents, compared to 43% who felt there were no issues.
Yana faced backlash for remarks suggesting he would cut road budgets in municipalities whose leaders did not support him in the House of Representatives elections. Initially, Takaichi defended him, stating, "You must repay through work," but ultimately accepted his resignation on October 14 as criticism intensified.
Opinions on the Prime Minister's handling of the situation varied by age group. Among those under 39, 64% felt there were no issues, while 65% of those over 60 believed there were.
In terms of economic policy, support for lowering the food consumption tax was strong. The percentage of respondents in favor of a bill to reduce the food consumption tax rate to 1% rose by 4 percentage points to 57%, while 36% opposed it. Support among those under 39 reached 78%, and among those over 60, 48% supported the reduction, surpassing the 44% who opposed it.
When asked which measure would be more effective in addressing inflation—lowering the food consumption tax or cash payments—the tax reduction was favored. 54% chose the proposed tax cut by the government and ruling party, compared to 33% who preferred cash payments advocated by the opposition.
However, opinions on the Prime Minister's response to inflation and the weak yen were evenly split. 45% approved of her handling, while 47% did not.
In the realm of foreign policy, there was a strong call for increased dialogue with China. 55% of respondents stated that opportunities for dialogue should be expanded, while 39% felt the current approach was sufficient. The poll noted that relations between Japan and China deteriorated following Takaichi's remarks regarding Taiwan last November. Even among Liberal Democratic Party supporters, 50% favored increasing dialogue opportunities, surpassing the 46% who supported maintaining the status quo.
Takaichi has expressed willingness to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China, on November 18-19, raising expectations for a potential dialogue with Chinese President Xi Jinping to improve relations.
The survey was conducted using a random digit dialing method among men and women aged 18 and older, with 945 respondents participating (a response rate of 40.3%). The margin of error is within 3 percentage points.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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