Arab News Japan

TOKYO: The Cabinet of Prime Minister TAKAICHI Sanae has seen its approval rating fall to 52.5 percent in the first week of June 2026, marking the lowest point since the administration took office in October 2025. According to Green Ship (Public Opinion Radar) who conducted the poll, the decline, a 2.5 percentage point drop from the previous week, coincides with a rise in the disapproval rating to 39.3 percent.

Political analysts attribute the downward trend primarily to the defamatory video issue surrounding Prime Minister Takaichi’s campaign. Weekly Bunshun reported that the campaign was involved in creating and distributing videos slandering opposition candidates during the February House of Representatives election and the previous year’s LDP presidential election. Tensions escalated on June 3 when an audio recording of an online meeting between the Prime Minister’s official secretary and an alleged video creator was released. During the House of Representatives Budget Committee on June 4, Prime Minister Takaichi declined to confirm the authenticity of the audio, citing a refusal to become a paid member of the reporting outlet.

Despite the passage of a 3.1135 trillion yen supplementary budget on June 5, which extends subsidies for gasoline, electricity, and gas, and improvements in the diplomatic situation regarding the Strait of Hormuz, these policy achievements have not been enough to restore public trust. The Prime Minister also suggested a potential review of the 170-yen gasoline price cap, adding to concerns about household budgets.

The political fallout has extended to party support ratings as well. The Liberal Democratic Party saw its support fall to 28.9 percent, dropping below the 30 percent threshold. Meanwhile, the number of unaffiliated voters increased significantly to 22.0 percent, suggesting that voters are distancing themselves from the LDP without necessarily moving toward opposition parties. Among opposition groups, the Sanseito Party maintained the highest support at 7.3 percent, while other parties remained largely stable. The future of the administration appears to hinge on the progress of the investigation into the video scandal and whether the government can regain public confidence.

The political party support landscape shows the Liberal Democratic Party at 28.9 percent, followed by a significant block of unaffiliated voters at 22.0 percent. Among opposition parties, the Sanseito Party leads with 7.3 percent support, followed by the Democratic Party for the People at 6.8 percent, the Japan Innovation Party at 5.6 percent, and the Communist Party at 5.5 percent. The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan holds 5.2 percent, while the Centrist Reform Alliance stands at 3.8 percent and Team Mirai at 3.7 percent. The Japan Conservative Party is at 3.5 percent, and both the Reiwa Shinsengumi and Komeito parties are at 2.7 percent.