Japan PM Takaichi's support rate falls below 50%, lowest since taking office, Kyodo reports
Public support for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's administration has fallen below 50% for the first time since she took office in October 2025. A Kyodo News poll conducted over a weekend shows a cabinet approval rating of 49.1%, a drop of 4.3 percentage points from the previous month. Disapproval rose to 33% from 30.9%. The decline follows a cabinet scandal involving the resignation of Kazuo Yana, though some reports suggest support remained steady despite the turmoil.
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- ✓ The Takaichi Cabinet approval rate fell to 49.1%, the lowest level since she took office in October last year.
- ✓ The cabinet's approval rating decreased by 4.3 percentage points from the previous month.
- ✓ The disapproval rating for the administration rose to 33% from 30.9%.
- ✓ A Kyodo News nationwide telephone survey provided the data for the approval rating decline.
What changed
A Kyodo News poll recorded the first dip in Takaichi's approval rating to below 50%.
Live updates
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PM Takaichi Cabinet Approval Hits Record Low of 49.1%
Public support for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's administration has fallen below 50% for the first time since she took office in October 2025. A Kyodo News poll conducted over a weekend shows a cabinet approval rating of 49.1%, a drop of 4.3 percentage points from the previous month. Disapproval rose to 33% from 30.9%. The decline follows a cabinet scandal involving the resignation of Kazuo Yana, though some reports suggest support remained steady despite the turmoil.
Why it matters
Takaichi took office in October last year. Her administration is currently facing scrutiny over governance style and scandals within the agriculture ministry.
What is confirmed
- The Takaichi Cabinet approval rate fell to 49.1%, the lowest level since she took office in October last year.
- The cabinet's approval rating decreased by 4.3 percentage points from the previous month.
- The disapproval rating for the administration rose to 33% from 30.9%.
- A Kyodo News nationwide telephone survey provided the data for the approval rating decline.
Still unconfirmed
- The decline in support may be due to Takaichi's slow response to the resignation of Kazuo Yana.
- Takaichi's DIY governance approach could be a primary weakness for her administration.
- Support remained steady at 50% despite a farm minister scandal.
What to watch next
- Official government response to the Kyodo poll results
- Further developments regarding the resignation of Kazuo Yana
- Future polling data to determine if the approval dip is a trend
confidence 90%Sources used for this update (11)
- Reuters — Japan PM Takaichi's support rate falls below 50%, lowest since taking office, Kyodo reports
- Japan Wire by Kyodo News — Takaichi Cabinet approval rate hits record low at 49.1%: Kyodo poll
- Bloomberg.com — Japan PM Takaichi’s Public Support Slips After Cabinet Scandal
- Nikkei Asia — Takaichi's DIY governance could be her achilles heel
- تسنیم — Support for Takaichi Cabinet Down below 50% for First Time: Kyodo Poll
- 朝日新聞 — Poll: Takaichi support steady at 50% despite farm minister scandal
- Tokyo Weekender — Japan’s Agriculture Ministers: A Troubled History of Scandals and Resignations
- nippon.com — LDP Exec Denies Ex-Farm Minister's Influence on Budget Cuts
- www.straitstimes.com — Japan PM Takaichi’s support rate falls below 50%, lowest ...
- www.yahoo.com — Japan PM Takaichi's support rate falls below 50%, lowest ...
- news.cgtn.com — Poll: Support for Japan's Takaichi cabinet falls below 50%
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