NHK poll: Kishida Cabinet approval rate rises slightly to 36%

An opinion poll by NHK shows that the approval rate for Prime Minister Kishida Fumio's Cabinet has risen to 36 percent, up 3 points from last month. The disapproval rate has dropped 2 points to 44 percent.

More than 1,200 people responded to the telephone survey conducted from Friday through Sunday.

Among the respondents who support the Cabinet, 45 percent said it seems better than other lineups, while 24 percent said it consists of political parties they support.

Of those who do not support the Cabinet, 39 percent said they do not expect much from its policies, and 35 percent said it lacks the ability to implement policies.

Asked about the Cabinet's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, 8 percent said they evaluate it highly and 55 percent evaluate it moderately. But 26 percent said they do not rate it highly and 7 percent do not value it at all.

As for new legislation to regulate donations to religious entities, including the group formerly known as the Unification Church, 18 percent said they rate it highly and 48 percent value it to some extent. But 19 percent said they do not evaluate it highly and 7 percent do not value it at all.

Three ministers of Kishida's Cabinet were forced to resign within a month from October. Asked about the prime minister's response to the problem, 3 percent said they rate it highly and 25 percent value it to some extent, while 43 percent do not evaluate it highly and 22 percent do not value it at all.

The government plans to increase defense spending over five years starting from the next fiscal year to 43 trillion yen, or about 315 billion dollars. Asked about the plan, 51 percent support it and 36 percent oppose it.

The government is also considering acquiring the capabilities to counterstrike enemy missile-firing sites and other targets. Regarding this change of policy, 55 percent answered they approve of it and 31 percent disapprove of it.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221212_28/