An NHK opinion poll shows that the approval rate for Prime Minister Kishida Fumio’s Cabinet has dropped to 20 percent, the lowest since it was launched in 2021.
NHK conducted the telephone survey over three days from Friday. More than 1,200 people responded.
The Cabinet approval rate dropped by 5 points from August to 20 percent. The disapproval rate rose 5 points to 60 percent.
Kishida’s main ruling Liberal Democratic Party will hold a leadership election on September 27. When asked about their interest in the race, 24 percent expressed much interest, 46 percent said they are interested to some degree, 18 percent said they do not have much interest, and 9 percent said they have no interest.
The respondents were asked to choose who they think is suitable to be the next LDP leader among 12 possible candidates.
Ishiba Shigeru was chosen by 28 percent of the respondents, Koizumi Shinjiro by 23 percent, Takaichi Sanae by 9 percent, Kono Taro by 6 percent and Kamikawa Yoko and Kobayashi Takayuki by 4 percent each.
Aoyama Shigeharu, Hayashi Yoshimasa and Motegi Toshimitsu were selected by 2 percent, Noda Seiko and Kato Katsunobu by 1 percent, and Saito Ken by 0 percent, while 7 percent responded that none of them are suitable.
The largest opposition Constitutional Democratic Party will also hold a leadership election on September 23.
When asked about their interest in the competition, 13 percent said they are very interested, 32 percent said they are interested to some degree, 31 percent said they do not have much interest, and 21 percent said they have no interest.
The respondents were asked to choose among five possible candidates who they think is suitable for the next leader of the party. Noda Yoshihiko was named by 35 percent, Edano Yukio by 14 percent, Izumi Kenta by 9 percent, Yoshida Harumi by 6 percent and Eda Kenji by 5 percent, while 8 percent of the respondents said none of them are suitable.
Asked when a general election should be held, with four options provided, 43 percent said “as soon as possible,” 13 percent said “in the first half of next year,” 15 percent said “at the same time as the Upper House election next summer,” and 16 percent said “near the end of the current term in October next year.”