Arab News Japan
TOKYO: The TAKAICHI Sanae Cabinet’s approval rating climbed by 2.3 points this month, reaching a robust 78.1%, according to a JNN public opinion survey released Sunday. Meanwhile, Cabinet disapproval dropped by 2.1 points to just 18.6%. Analysts believe this surge gives Takaichi fresh momentum to consider dissolving the House of Representatives.
As Japan’s first female Prime Minister, she has hinted that a general election could be on the horizon once parliament passes the 2026 budget, expected later this month or early next month.
Backing for Takaichi’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) edged up by 0.2 points to 29.7%.
In contrast, support for the main opposition, the Constitutional Democratic Party, slipped to 5.0%, down from the previous survey, JNN reported.
The LDP’s coalition partner, the Japan Renewal Party, held steady at 5.0% support. The People’s Party saw a notable jump, rising 2.2 points to 6.3%. Smaller parties continued to trail, each drawing less than 4%, with a few barely registering at under 1%.
The survey also revealed that 40.3% of respondents, up from 39.5%, remain unaffiliated with any political party. This influential bloc has often played a decisive role in shaping Japan’s election results.
JNN said it used random digit dialing to contact both landlines and mobile phones on Saturday, January 10, and Sunday, January 11. The nationwide sample included 2,653 adults aged 18 and over (774 landlines and 1,879 mobile phones). Valid responses were received from 1,015 people (38.3% of the total), including 431 from landlines and 584 from mobile phones.
