Japan’s New Government Boasts High Approval Ratings
Japan’s newly appointed Prime Minister, Takaichi Sanae, has earned remarkably strong public support, outperforming her recent predecessors during the early months of her tenure. As Japan’s first female prime minister, her rise marks a historic moment in the country’s politics.
National opinion polls from major media outlets in late October and early November revealed that Takaichi’s Cabinet debut approval ratings are among the highest recorded for any Japanese administration in the past two decades. The figures ranged from about 65 percent to 83 percent, with particularly strong backing from younger and middle-aged voters.
The Asahi Shimbun survey found a 68 percent approval rate for the Takaichi Cabinet – the third-highest debut figure for any government since Koizumi Junichiro’s in 2001.
Support was especially solid among younger generations, with 86 percent of respondents in their 30s and more than 70 percent of those in their 50s or younger expressing approval. Respondents attributed their support mainly to the Cabinet’s policy direction, followed by perceptions that it was “better than other possible Cabinets” and a sense of trust in the leadership of Takaichi and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
Author’s Summary
Takaichi Sanae’s leadership has sparked a wave of optimism, as her Cabinet achieves record-high approval ratings driven by confidence in her policies and future direction for Japan.