'Abe State Funeral' Push by Japan's Kishida, Approval Rating Falls to 20% Range

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida
Photo by AP Associated Press

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The approval rating of the Kishida Fumio Cabinet has fallen into the 20% range for the first time in history. It is analyzed that the controversy surrounding the state funeral of former Prime Minister Abe and suspicions of involvement between the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (formerly the Unification Church) influenced the decline in approval ratings.

The Mainichi Shimbun reported that a survey conducted from the 17th to the 18th targeting adults aged 18 and over showed the approval rating of the Kishida Cabinet at 29%, down 7 percentage points (P) from the previous month. This is the first time since the cabinet's launch in October last year that the approval rating has failed to exceed 30%. The percentage of respondents who do not support the Kishida Cabinet was 64%, an increase of 10 percentage points from the previous month. Support for the LDP also showed a low figure, dropping 6 percentage points to 23%.

The Nikkei Shimbun's public opinion poll also revealed a negative response toward the Kishida Cabinet. A survey conducted by Nikkei and TV Tokyo from the 16th to the 18th targeting over 1,000 voters nationwide recorded the approval rating of the Kishida Cabinet at 43%, down 14 percentage points from the previous month, marking an all-time low.

Nikkei stated, "This is the first time that the percentage of respondents who do not support the cabinet has surpassed those who do," and reported that the approval rating, which peaked at 66% in May, has been declining for four consecutive months.

Japanese media analyzed that the unclear resolution of suspicions regarding the connection between the LDP and the Unification Church is affecting the drop in approval ratings. In the Mainichi Shimbun survey, only 14% responded that the investigation conducted by the LDP regarding the Unification Church was sufficient, while 76% said it was insufficient. Among LDP supporters, 50% answered that the investigation was inadequate.

Mainichi Shimbun pointed out, "Since the LDP conducted an investigation on July 7 among party members about connections with Unification Church-related organizations, 179 members have voluntarily reported such connections," but added, "Cases of newly revealed connections are still emerging, and most people do not accept the investigation results."

Regarding the state funeral of former Prime Minister Abe, who died from a gun attack, opposition responses reached 62%, greatly surpassing support responses at 27%. Within the LDP support base, opposition rates increased with age. Among supporters aged 70 and above, 70% opposed the state funeral.

The Nikkei Shimbun reported, "In the July survey, support and opposition to the state funeral were evenly split at 47% and 43%, respectively, but opposition has since increased," and added, "Although Prime Minister Kishida explained the reasons for holding the state funeral in the Diet, the public still appears unconvinced."