Key Facts
• July 26-27: Joint poll conducted by Sankei Shimbun and FNN.
• 47.7% believe Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba should resign; 44.2% disagree.
• Cabinet approval rating dropped to 34.6%, a 3.6-point decrease since June.
• Disapproval rating rose to 60.3%, a 2.9-point increase.
• 60.4% viewed the ruling coalition’s loss of majority as positive; 27.5% disagreed.
• 57.8% supported the Japan-U.S. tariff agreement; 37.4% opposed it.
• 56.0% opposed the proposed ¥20,000 cash handout; 38.6% supported it.
• Over 70% called for tax cuts or abolition of the consumption tax.
• Party support rates: Liberal Democratic Party (21.0%), Democratic Party for the People (13.9%), and others.
• LDP’s support rate is the second lowest since January 2021.
Summary
A recent poll by Sankei Shimbun and FNN revealed a divided public opinion on Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s resignation following the ruling coalition’s defeat in the House of Councillors election. While 47.7% believe he should step down, 44.2% disagree. The cabinet’s approval rating fell to 34.6%, with disapproval rising to 60.3%. The coalition’s loss of majority was seen positively by 60.4% of respondents. On economic policies, 56.0% opposed a proposed cash handout, and over 70% demanded tax cuts or abolition of the consumption tax. Support for the Liberal Democratic Party dropped to 21.0%, marking its second-lowest level since 2021.
