Takaichi Hits Record Low in Approval Ratings After Soaring Popularity and Talk of "Long-Term Rule"

Takaichi’s Approval Rating Drops to 54.3%, Lowest Since Inauguration

Negative Campaign Controversy, Soaring Prices, and Diplomatic Turmoil Fuel Decline

Tokyo street, Japan. Japan National Tourism Organization

Since taking office in October last year, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who enjoyed unprecedented popularity and even sparked talk of a "long-term rule," has recently seen her cabinet's approval rating plummet to its lowest level since her inauguration. The collapse of the previously solid support, which had hovered in the 70% range, is attributed to a combination of factors: suspicions of "digital smear campaigns" during the election, inadequate government measures to address the rising cost of living, and a series of recent controversies on the international diplomatic stage.

Approval Rating Drops to Early 50% Range for the First Time Since Inauguration

According to a June public opinion poll conducted by Jiji Press from June 12 to 15 among 2,000 adults nationwide, the approval rating for the Takaichi cabinet was recorded at 54.3%. This represents a decline of 5.1 percentage points from the previous month, marking the lowest level since the cabinet's launch in October last year. Disapproval rose to 22.2%, also hitting a record high.

This marks a stark contrast from just a few months ago. Until earlier this year, the Takaichi cabinet maintained a high approval rating, consistently above 70%. In some surveys, the rating soared to 73%, even raising the possibility of long-term leadership. However, over the past two months, a clear downward trend has emerged.

Negative Campaign Controversy and Cost-of-Living Burden Overlap

The decline in approval is attributed to both the government's failure to address inflation and the controversy over "slander videos" during the election. Allegations emerged that the Takaichi camp produced and distributed videos criticizing rival candidates during the Liberal Democratic Party leadership election and the House of Representatives election, which fueled the controversy. In public opinion polls, more respondents said they found the official explanations unconvincing.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Nara, Japan - Yonhap News Agency

Economic factors are also weighing on public sentiment. Amid rising prices and instability in energy costs, there is a prevailing view that the government's response has been insufficient, leading to public dissatisfaction. In particular, criticism that the pledge to reduce the food consumption tax was withdrawn is cited as another factor driving down the approval rating.

Core Support Base Cracks... Accelerated Defection Among Young People and Independents

Changes in the support base are also evident. The defection is particularly notable among young people and independents, who have been regarded as the core supporters of the Takaichi administration. According to a telephone poll conducted by Nikkei with TV Tokyo from May 29 to 31 among 958 adults aged 18 and older, the approval rating among those aged 39 and under dropped sharply by 7 percentage points from the previous month. In comparison, the rating for those in their 40s and 50s declined by just 1 percentage point, and for those 60 and older, by only 2 percentage points over the same period.

A Mainichi Shimbun poll conducted from May 23 to 24 found that the approval rating among independents—those not supporting any particular political party—was 45%, a drop of 4 percentage points from the previous survey.

G7 Diplomatic Controversy Spreads Further

Awkward moments on the diplomatic stage have also had a negative impact on public opinion. On June 18, during the official G7 group photo session, images of Takaichi being seemingly snubbed by other leaders spread on social media, sparking controversy.

Japan's Nikkan Gendai, citing France Inter, also reported on a clash with U.S. President Donald Trump. During the G7 working dinner, the two leaders reportedly clashed, prompting other leaders to intervene. It was explained that Trump compared the U.S. airstrike on Iran to Japan's 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, which triggered the conflict.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.